CHRISTCHURCH PROGRESS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25273, 27 August 1947, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH PROGRESS

MAYORS REPLY TO ARCHITECTS

“STINKING FISH*’ CRY DEPLORED 4 T have no time for citizens who are always ready to cry ‘stinking fish* In disrespect of our city, and I do not believe.that architects in general hold the views expressed as those of the Institute of Architects,” said the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) yesterday in comment on the statement issued by the Institute charging Christchurch with lack of progress. “I believe rather that the views are those of one or two idealists who can see no good in anything that they do not themselves propose or advocate.” He would suggest that they widen their vision and look beyond the centre of the city to the suburbs where, for the most part, the people lived their lives and had their being, said Mr Andrews. They would see the work of successive councils over the years succeeding the pioneer era in widened and sealed streets, planted trees by the thousands, new and beautiful parks, and amenities too numerous to mention.

“As the son of pioneers, I deplore this everlasting deprecation of presentday administration and comparison of it with the administration of the pioneers,” said the Mayor. “I bow in admiration to all they did; but I also know that they made mistakes. I question whether they had ever heard the term ‘town planning,’ as it is interpreted to-day. The city Within the belts certainly was planned in England—and planned well except for sotne of the pocket handkerchief sections in narrow streets such as those ,oft Durham street. But what about the present-day suburbs? Were they not just allowed to grow with numerous half-chain lanes, no footpaths, no drainage .and with streets of earth or boulders. Let those critics look afield and see the enormous amount of work that has been done to turn those suburbs into beautiful residential districts; and yet there is much to be done.

“Jaundiced Vision” “Let them turn their jaundiced vision to new suburbs since added and where planning is definite and amenities assured. Let them cast their minds over the cultural amenities iti the shape of libraries and recreational ones in children’s playgrounds, playing fields, parks and beautiful reserves/’ Returning to discussion on the centre of the city. Mr Andrews said it was true that the main streets remained much as at first set put, though an enormous amount of widening and improvements had been made. It was true the railway station and public buildings largely remained a blot on the city; but that was the penalty the people of Christchurch paid for selling their birthright of provincial government to general government. They were now in the hands Of a central government in those matters and the city authorities had no power, except to beg for improvements. _ The council was spending £bo,ooo a year on new development work in the city, Mr Andrews said. Practically all that sum was capital expenditure, and financed street widening, tree-plant-ing, work on the Sign of the Takahe, and work on parks and reserves. In addition, up to £41,000 had been spent on town planning. Referring to the architects’ allegations that there was an increasing number of overhead wires and poles, Mr Andrews said they were completely untrue. Both the Post and Telegraph Department and the Municipal Electricity Department, had put a great number of wires underground, and there had been ft considerable decrease in the number of overhead wires during the last 20 years. The pioneers never thought of a civic centre, which was the vogue in these later days, said Mr Andrews. They planned the Square as a scholastic and ecclesiastical centre, and because of its restricted area exchanged it and the Square had become the business centre.

Town Hall Will Come “The provision of a town hall is the prerogative of the City Council through the people, but the ratepayers have never sanctioned it though two loan polls have been taken. I believe a town hall will come, and sooner than many expect, but it will come largely through the efforts Of publicspirited citizens. No one knows better than the architects that it is unlikely that a building permit would be issued for a long time yet, and, in spite of the cheap jibe in their statement the difficulties of labour and material are real. The inspired criticism of our lack of a town hall by a visiting conductor was sadly out of place. We are all| aware of the facts; but words put into the mouth of a visitor who had received the hospitality of the city were unfair to him and put him in ah invidious position.” Dunedin’s railway station, mentioned by the Institute of Architects, was built long before any of the obstacles of labour and materials existed. Caroline Bay, in Timaru, was purely an accident, caused by the building of the breakwater for the harbour. The amenities at Caroline Bay were certainly added by the authorities. “But surely these architects must realise the enormous amount of work already done by the separate small boroughs of New Brighton and Sumner on their beaches, and the amount already done by the city in the short time since the boroughs joined the city and since the beaches were handed back by the Army authorities,” said the Mayor. “They must also know of the work now proceeding on the beaches.

“Let me tell these people that ttie city fathers are not a complacent lot. We have a progressive council, and an impressive list of progress made and contemplated can be set out. It is a council that is planning ahead, and It would be more helpful if, instead of criticising, these people would come to light with practical ideas. One or two have been made in the last month or two, but they would take years to complete and cannot be begun the day or month after they are “May I add that I could name some city architects who could be accused of definite obstruction to some of the progressive ideas that have been put forward?”