WHOSE STATUE?

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21858, 11 August 1936, Page 10

WHOSE STATUE?

Fate of FitzGerald Monument BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION ASSUMES OWNERSHIP

The statue of James Edward FitzGerald, executed in bronze to the commission of Mr R. E. Green, offered by Mr Green to the City Council, refused by the council, offered to the Christchurch Beautifying Association, accepted by the Beautifying Association, is more uncertain of its fate than has been any public monument in a city which has always found it hard to make up its mind on such matters. There is even uncertainty now' about the ownership of the statue, about who has the right to give it if the city wants it, or to sell it if the City Council decides to buy it. When the Beautifying Association discussed the statue at a meeting last evening, it did not know- what was passing at the City Council meeting. The acceptance or rejection of the statue by the council w r as discussed. It was assumed that the statue, which has cost approximately £IOOO, was the property of the association, which accepted it from Mr Green after its rejection by the council. But the association was not aware of the further possibility opened up by the notice of motion which Cr. M. E. Lyons has undertaken to give, proposing that the council buys the statue for the city. Which makes the ownership of the bronze figure a rather different matter.

“Comic Opera”

In the meantime, as Mr R. B. Owen informed the Beautifying Association, the FitzGerald statue has been placed in bond, “to save storage charges pending finality with the Commissioner of Stamps.” The association has written to the City Council stating that it has accepted the statue, and that it will be pleased to discuss the placing of it with the council. Two sites are suggested—on the river bank by the Provincial Council Chambers, and on Fitzgerald avenue.

Mr Owen stated that the association was most anxious to get the City Council’s support in securing the site on the provincial land. He explained that it was costing Is a week to keep the statue in bond. “We accepted it on the understandin,: that there should be no liability,” said Mr Irving Sladen. “What would be the position if the City Council r~scinds its motion?” he added.

Mr T. S. Dacre: Will they accept the statue from us or from Mr Green? Mr Sladen: I think we should stand on our dignity and not kowtow to the council.

Mr Dacre: Yes, it belongs to us

“It sounds like a bit of comic opera,” remarked Mr Owen. “We don’t want to dictate to the council, but to co-operate with them. We want as happy a finish as possible to this most unhappy discussion.”