TOWN HALL SITE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19805, 18 December 1929, Page 4

TOWN HALL SITE.

CR. THACKER'S MOTION. REFERRED TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. "That the Mayor and Councillors of the Christehurch City Council take immediate steps to acquire the freehold of that block of land bounded by Victoria, Kilmore, and Colombo streets, and Cambridge terrace as a future Town Hall site, and that a sufficiency thereof at the east end of the block be offered by the City Council on behalf of the City as a site for the MeDougall Art Gallery subject to the successful architect's approval when he : arrives in this City in January next." t The foregoing motion was moved, in accordance with notice, by Cr. H. T. J. Thacker at last night's meeting of the City Council. Speaking to his motion, Cr. Thacker said that there was no use in his going into minute particulars. The area was over two acres and it could be purchased for the City. The matter was of intense interest to the whole of the City, and indeed the City was in urgent need of more accommodation in its municipal offices. It was an absolutely good financial proposition. Cr. A. E. Armstrong seconded the motion. Christchurch, he remarked, was the only City in New Zealand that did not have a town hall. He suggested that a municipal gymnasium, large enough for a football team to train in, could be erected behind the town hall. I Cr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., said that if he could see how the proposal could be financed without placing an extra burden on the ratepayers he would be glad to support it. He did not know what the block would cost. Cr. J. A. Flesher: £75,000. Cr. Sullivan added that he would not be a party to a proposition that would involve the City in an annual loss of several thousand pounds. He thought they should have the proposal thoroughly examined by the Finance Committee. There was no doubt that it was a wonderful site, but could the citizens afford to acquire itf He suggested Cr. Thacker should amend the motion to have the matter thoroughly and properly examined by the Finance Committee. They must know what it meant to the City. | "I suggested that," said Cr. Thacker. » Cr. A. W. Beavan said that Cr. Thacker's motion showed scant consideration for what had been done in the past concerning the Art Gallery site. Cr. Thacker was endeavouring to sidetrack the question of the Art Gallery site. He thought himself that the best site for a Town Hall would be that of the old Provincial Council Chamber. Cr. J. W. Beanland agreed with Cr. Beavan's remarks. He knew what was at the back of Cr. Thcker's mind. He (Cr. Thacker) wanted to see the Art Gallery erected on the site he (Cr. Thacker) had suggested. The speaker objected to the statement made by Cr. Thacker at a recent gathering in Victoria square, when that gentleman was present as Deputy-Mayor, in criticising certain members of the Council regarding their attitude concerning the Art Gallery site. On that occasion Cr. Thacker had been guilty of bad manners in that he had referred to several councillors, including the speaker, as a lot of psalm-singers. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) said that the matter must be cleared up at once. In his own opinion the question of the Art Gallery ought to be separated from that of the Town Hall. He had been adversely criticised himself regarding the Art Gallery site, whereas as a matter of fact he had not selected the present site in the Botanic Gardens, but, like the donor of the Art Gallery (Mr R. E. MeDougall), had merely agreed to it. At a later stage Cr. Thacker said that Cr. Beanland's remarks were those of a psalm-singer, Cr. Beanland retorting that Cr. Thacker was not a gentleman. "Many good men are psalm-singers," commented the Mayor. On the suggestion of Cr. M. E. Lyons, Cr. Thacker agreed to allow his motion to be altered so that all reference to the Art Gallery should be deleted from it, and that the motion as amended shou'd go to the Finance Committee to enable the question to be gone into and reported on.