THE SQUARE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19251, 5 March 1928, Page 8

THE SQUARE.

" IMPROVEMENT " SCHEME. THE MAYOR'S ATTITUDE. That there is not 5 per cent, of the citizens of Christchurch opposed to the City Council's scheme for the improvement of Cathedral square, that if it can be shown that the majority of the citizens are in favour of an alternative scheme he is prepared, as a democrat, to back their opinion, that the only people who have a right to speak 011 ueiialf of the citizens are their representatives 011 local bodies, that a loan poll would not demonstrate whether or not a majority is 111 favour of the scheme, but would indicate simply whether or not the ratepayers were willing to spend money, and that if opponents of the scheme, instead of taking up a dog-in-the-manger attitude, would come forward with an alternative scheme it would be a great help. Thus may be summarised a statement made 011 Saturday by the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) to a representative of The Press regarding recent comment on the subject. Mr Archer said he told the Board of Health that he believed an overwhelming majority of the citizens of Christchurch were in favour of the improvements proposed to be placed in the Square, That was his view, but he was quite open to conviction in the matter, and if it could be proved that the majority desired an alternative he was prepared, as a democrat, to back their judgment. He did not believe that 5 per cent, were opposed to the scheme, though he was aware that among that 5 per cent, there were a few individuals who, by voice and pen, would like to create the impression that they had a right to speak for the City. Tlie only people who had a right to do so were those who represented it on its local bodies. Not only the present Labour City Council but previous Councils, controlled by the opponents of Labour, were either unanimous, or by a large majority, in favour of the scheme which, in fact, originated before the Labour City Council came into existence.

It was 'sheer nonsense'' that the poll on loan proposals would give the opinion of the ratepayers on tho desirableness or otherwise of the scheme: it would tell them simply whether or not the ratepayers were willing to spend the money. Just at present, for some reason or other, there was an objection to raising loans for public improvements, but there was no objection to improvements. "And personally I believe, and believing it I am going to say it, that at least 95 per cent, of the citizens of Christchurch are in favour cf the proposed improvements in the Square.

"If legal difficulties are involved," Mr Archer said in reply to a question on the point, "they will have to be overcome by legal process'