THE LATE GODLEY STATUE SITE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17317, 1 December 1921, Page 10

THE LATE GODLEY STATUE SITE.

to the ediron or "the press." ' Sir, —Thia abominable idea of the Christchuich City Council to erect a convenience—for, call it what they like, we all know what is intended—on the late God ley statue site, ought to be a severe lesson to a large class of people ' who neglect to vote on municipal matters, and it is most incongruous that a large percentage of this class/are those closely connected with the early days of Canterbury, and are the first to wail and complain when vandalism and desecration are threatened. About a year ago Mr Massey made a state- . jnent in the House that ho intended to legislate to compel people to vote on matters affecting tho welfare of the city they reside in. And why not? A citizen enjoys citizenship, and if-too lazy or negligent to go to the poll he ought to bo made to. - - It is his or ner - bounden duty to see that sane men ere appointed to manage the affairs of the city, and do their utmost to oust such men as those who would suggest erecting a convenience on thi9 plot and putting the Godley statue on top of it. Twenty years ago if a man had made such a suggestion he would soon ■ Have had a very accurate knowledge of the temperature of the water in the river ; Avon, and the man who stated in the Council that "his dogs were, entitled to more consideration than dead lions"— alluding to our gallant dead —would no doubt have been able to give quite a scientifio report on . the ; same matter after he had recovered from his experience. It was only the other -day ' I Was looking at a picture in an early "Weekly Press"—the Godley statue surtaunded by a group of grand old \ pioneers, with ' their wives. Compare tWs picture with what we might sce-r- . that. jnarvelloufe conception of an architect's mind, the tramway Jshelter, and a huge convenience with the Godley statue on top of it. , Surely it would jnake the angels , weep, and as surely such, or nearly such, will,come to pass if the citizens of' Christchurch do not look to it sharply. • To desecrate tms spot,, almost 6acred mriV'is-a. gross insult to that splendid old stock, the early settlers,. men and women, who faced with brave; cheerful hearts all the hardship, risks, and vicissitudes, to found, for us, this dear, fair land of ours.—Yours, etc., v , E.H.L. Reddiffs, November 25th. • P.S.—(November 30th). Since writing t&e above I see in to-day's _ paper a glaring, case of indifference in the matter of voting, and as you say in ycrar leader, of to-day, this carelessness will lead to a moat unpleasant awakening.—E.H.L. <