THE SQUARE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20789, 24 February 1933, Page 10

THE SQUARE.

RESERVE BILL AMENDED. COMMENT BY THE MAYOR. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, February 23. Material changes had been made in the Christchurch City Eesorves Amendment Bill, when it was reported back to the House of Representatives to-day by the Local Bills Committee. In its original form the Bill vested the whole of the Godley reserve » Cathedral square in the Mayor, councillors, and citizens of Christchurch, and freed it from all previous trusts. According to the amendments now authorised, only those parts of the reserve outside the Godley statue site, that is, outside the rectagonal plot at present fenced off, will be so vested in the City, and these are declared to be a street. The control of the Godley statue site itself is to remain as at present, and by an additional clause in the Bill the Christchurch City Council undertakes to re-erect upon it within six months after the passing of the Bill the statue of John Robert Godley which at present stands in ' the Cathedral grounds. The Committee recommended that with these amendments the Bin should be allowed to prcceed. As a matter of formality it was referred to the Lands Committee, but no further changes are likely. "Should Be Acceptable." The opinion that the Bill as amended represented a compromise, and should be acceptable to all parties in the Cathedral square dispute, was expressed by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan) in an interview this evening. ! "The amendments made represent a compromise between the representatives of the City Council and those of the Save the Square Committee," said Mr Sullivan. "The effect of the amendments is for the enclosed Godley block. site to be retained under the old trust and the balance of the reserve to be handed over to the City Council for street purposes only. This compromise was suggested by the representative of the Save the Square Committee and agreed to by me. I hopo that its accept-1 anco will put an end to the dissensions that in the past have so iroubled the City in regard to Cathedral square. With the improvements to the Godley block already authorised, and those in process, this friendly compromise over the legal question should make us all happy over Cathedral square once more."