MAYOR REPLIES TO CRITICISM

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25275, 29 August 1947, Page 8

MAYOR REPLIES TO CRITICISM

“GROSS MISSTATEMENTS” What he referred to as “gross misstatements" were answered last evening by the Mayor 'Mr E. H. Andrews? when he commented on a leading article in “The Press” yesterday, and on a statement by the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, which alleged that there had been a lack of progress in Christchurch during the last 25 years. •T do not intend to traverse all the extraneous points raised in the leading article,” Mr Andrews said. “Neither ’The Press’ nor anyone else can honestly accuse me of opposition to long-range or short-range plans for the advancement and improvement of the city, and I recognise that great scope for improvement will appear from time to time as the city grows. “What I do object to, and will expose in the most emphatic language, are the extravagant misstatements made by these people who profess to have the welfare of the city at heart, but who seem to lose no opportunity for depreciating it, 'and for magnifying its defects. To say that parks, squares, avenues, trees, and reserves were all laid out by our pioneers, and tjiat no progress has been made in 25 years, is a gross misstatement."

[ Mr M. J. Barnett, the superintendent of parks and reserves, had recently given the council an imposing list of the things that had been provided during his period of office, which was much less than 25 years, the Mayor said. The 1 list far exceeded in number anything done by the pioneers, much as the great things done by the pioneers in the early years were lauded. “Did the pioneers ever think of the afforestation of the sand dunes?’’ fie asked. “There the council now has more than 3000 acres of forest, by far the greatest part of which has been planted within the last 25 years. That is only one example, and I gave others in my recent statement, and by no means exhausted the list of things done. “Gross Ingratitude” “To charge city leaders, past and present, with complacency is just gross ingratitude to those men and women who sacrifice time and money in the interests of the city. How many of these critics are prepared to offer themselves for civic administration without pay? No wonder it grows increasingly difficult to persuade suitable persons to contest public office." Mr Andrews concluded by saying that he had been surprised and pleased to receive a number of letters and numerous telephone calls from responsible citizens commending his earlier statement. He bad been most pleased when several leading architects had called or telephoned him and said they disclaimed any responsibility for the statement made by the branch. They had assured him that the views in the statement did not have the endorsement of a targe number of the institute’s members.