OLD PROVINCIAL BUILDINGS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26969, 19 February 1953, Page 6

OLD PROVINCIAL BUILDINGS

FUTURE CONTROL DISCUSSED

DEPUTATION TO MEET PRIME MINISTER

A conference of all local bodies in Canterbury and Westland, called to consider the future control of the Canterbury Provincial Council buildings, was adjourned in Christchurch yesterday after advice had been received from the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) that he wished to discuss the matter with representatives of the meeting. The conference had been asked to consider whether the vesting of the control of the buildings in the Christchurch City Council was favoured, and to seek a contribution of £4OO from the local bodies towards the cost of restoring the floor of the council chamber.

Representatives of most of the local bodies in Canterbury and Canterbury and Westland members of Parliament, who are members of the Canterbury Provincial Buildings Board, attended the meeting.

The chairman of the board (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) presided and outlined the composition of the board. He said the board had been established in 1928. It comprised the Minister of Lands and the members of Parliament representing the districts of Canterbury and Westland. The buildings and land on which they were situated were handed over to the board in trust for the two provinces. The board met in Wellington at least once during each session of Parliament.

Last year, the Provincial Buildings Committee learned that the floor of i the stone chamber was showing signs of deterioration, and expert advice was sought, Mr Macfarlane said. It was ascertained that the floor required complete renewal. Tenders for the work were called, the cost of making a permanent job by means of a concrete floor, damp-proofed and covered with linoleum, was £l2OO. A Government grant of £4OO was available, leaving the balance of £BOO to be found.

At the last meeting of the board, Mr Macfarlane said, he had been directed by. the Christchurch City Council to approach the Government with a request that the land and buildings now vested in the board be vested in the council, which would then take the responsibility for maintenance. No formal resolution was passed by the board, but the Canterbury Provincial Buildings Committee at its meeting last month in Christchurch decided that a conference of all local bodies in Canterbury and Westland should be called early in February. This meeting would be asked to make two decisions—whether or not it favoured the the land and buildings in the Christchurch City Council, and whether the local bodies would respond to the appeals for funds towards the £BOO deficit on the restoration of the floor. The board could find £4OO, and it was hoped that the balance of £4OO would be contributed by the local bodies of Canterbury and Westland. Available Finance The committee had assets amounting to £1435 and with a Government grant of £4OO, had a total of £1835, said Mr Macfarlane. Of this amount, £2OO in inscribed stock was frozen, so that after paying for the floor the committee would have a liquid balance/of £435. Against this there were the added contingencies of £169 14s 9d for furniture repairs and £250 as the estimated cost of repairs to the spouting and roof of the buildings. It had only recently been discovered that no rent was being paid for rooms which the Department of Agriculture occupied in the buildings, Mr Macfarlane said. The board had entered into negotiations with the department, and a valuation had been made. The valuers estimated that £B4O could be derived as revenue from the department. A request for retrospective pay-, ments now would hardly be fair, and he did not think such payments would amount to much.

Mr Macfarlane said he did not wish local body representatives to think that the City Council wanted to rush m and control the buildings. He gave instances in the past where such assets as the Sign of the Takahe, reserves on Cashmere Hills, and the Canterbury Public Library had been handed over to the council for control. These things were done because it was thought the council had the machinery to maintain the assets. The Provincial Council Buildings would probably prove a liability to the council. Irrespective of whether or not the council was given control of the buildings and land, a contribution would be made by the council towards the cost of the repairs.

Mr Macfarlaine reported that two letters had been received from the Minister of Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett) and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts), agreeing to the proposal that the buildings should be vested in the City Council. Charfge Opposed

Mr J. K. McAlpine, M.P., representing the Taw.era County Council, moved that th& buildings should remain under the control of the board, and that they should not be controlled by .any other body. He added as a rider that the Government should see that Gbvernment departments .paid a fair rent for the use of the buildings. Mr McAlpine said he believed it would be a retrograde step to take the control out of the hands of the board and put it in one organisation’s hands. The buildings were of historical importance to all Canterbury and Westland. He considered the financial aspect was such that the local bodies should contribute towards the future cost of repairs and maintenance. Mr McAlpine’s motion was seconded by Miss M. B. Howard, M.P. “What we wish to safeguard is these beautiful buildings,” she said. “They are some of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, buildings in New Zealand.”

Miss Howard explained the city council’s attitude on control of the buildings. Rather than let the buildings deteriorate, the council was prepared, at all costs, th make sure that they were kept in good repair, she said. She believed the links with the past should not be lost, and asked that all local bodies should do their share towards maintaining the buildings. At this stage, Mr Macfarlane asked the meeting to go into committee. He said word had just come from the Prime Minister which would affect the meeting. The meeting then went into committee.

When the conference resumed in open meeting, Mr J. B. Kent. M.P., moved that the buildings should be vested in the City Council, and that the Government should bring down the necessary legislation.

Mr Macfarlane then reported that a telephone message had been received from the Prime Minister, asking that the conference should send two representatives to Wellifigton to discuss the matter with him.

On Mr Macfarlane’s motion, it was decided to adjourn the meeting. Miss Howard and Mr McAlpine were appointed to wait on the Prime Minister and report back to a later conference. Mr Macfarlane was asked to join the deputation to Mr Holland if he was available at the time.