U.S. PRAISE FOR CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27165, 8 October 1953, Page 13

U.S. PRAISE FOR CHRISTCHURCH

ARTICLE IN FLORIDA NEWSPAPER Christchurch is one of the most beautiful cities in the world—“made so by its beauty-conscious citizens,” according to Mrs Wilhelmina Greene, an American author on horticulture, in an article in the “Winter Park Sun,” Florida. While Mrs Greene was in Christchurch, she was shown over the city by Mr M. J. Barnett (Director of Parks and Reserves), to whom she has sent an autographed copy of one of her flower books. “We’d like to venture thflt New Zealand will be heading the list for travel spots after Wilhelmina Greene finishes the speaking tour she has scheduled this fall following her recent round trip round the world,” said the newspaper. “For of all the garden spots this enthusiastic botanist and artist visited on her recent world tour, New Zealand stands first with her as a perfect vacation spot, with Japan running a close second. “At Christchurch, Mrs Greene found a garden spot of beauty. Standing on the great Canterbury plain, backed by tall mountains, Christchurch has 61 parks and is known as the ‘garden city.’ So beauty conscious are the city officials that prizes are given annually for the best small gardens, for the best gardens beautifying factory areas, and for the best kept street. Everyone joins in the competition and in the streets the people in each block take over to keep their block beautiful in the street composition. “Civic pride ,is apparent all over New Zealand and Mrs Greene found it one of the most democratic of all the places she has visited,”

“Another striking feature of Christchurch,” said Mrs Greene, “was the modern housing development for old people.” The references to Christchurch in the “Winter Park Sun” were in black type at the top of a column. “This is one of the best pieces o< publicity Christchurch has received,” said Mr Barnett.