IMPROVEMENT OF CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25248, 29 July 1947, Page 8

IMPROVEMENT OF CHRISTCHURCH

SCRIPT OF APPEAL TO CITIZENS

DRAFT REJECTED BY COUNCIL

After a suggestion at the last meeting of the expansion and development committee of the Christchurch City Council that a leaflet be sent out with all rate demands enlisting the support of citizens in improving Christchurch, the finance committee of the City Council received a draft of the appeal from Mr H. Tillman, of the advisory committee on civic beautification. The

committee reported to the council last evening that it had advised Mr Tillman that it regretted it could not accept the suggested script in its entirety, and that “in any case the committee did not think that the distribution of the circular with the rate demands would achieve the best results.”

Replying to Cr. A. R. Guthrey, Cr. M. E. Lyons said the script was rejected because of the proposed wholesale advocacy by the council of the abolition of fences. Where there were children a fence was often a very desirable thing to have round a house. People who lived on a main road, as he did, found no fence or a low fence rather a mixed blessing. The job of putting the appeal into 40.000 rate demands was also a “bit of a problem.”

“And there is a psychological matter.” said Cr. Lyons. “When you ask John Citizen to do something for the council it does not timely to put it in his rate .demand.” Cr. J. L Hay: Business firms take that risk when they send some publicity matter with the accounts.

He suggested that the srrint could be altered to make it acceptable.

“It is time somebody took an interest and shook the citv up.” said Cr. L G. Amos. “The business of wastepaper baskets is a disgrace to the place.” Cr. J. N. Clarke: I object to that. This is one of the best-kept cities in Australia or New Zealand What Cr. Amos says is a libel to Christchurch, and we keep our parks better than anvbody else south of the line.

Cr. M. McLean said women were already protesting to the Government about the State houses having no fences.