“THE UNIVERSITY PRECINCT”

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 8

“THE UNIVERSITY PRECINCT”

PUBLIC MEETING NEXT WEEK PROFESSOR JOBBERNS ASKED TO SPEAK His conception of a university precinct in the western part of central Christchurch will be described by Professor George Jobberns at a public meeting in the Civic Theatre next Tuesday evening.

“It was not until I had been abroad recently and came back to see our civic trends with fresh eyes that I realised the threat to this most delectable part of our city,” Professor Jobberns said yesterday. “Until I made some statements on my observations, I did not realise how many citizens shared my concern. I have had dozens of calls and suggestions. At the request of a group of interested citizens I have agreed to give a public lecture.” Some men had offered to contribute to a fighting fund. “This is not a fight,” Professor Jobberns said. “I am no Joshua putting the Amalekites to the edge of the sword. I simply want to interest all citizens in preserving the character of that part of the city which holds so many of our historic buildings and public institutions.” A collection of six dozen coloured slides has been prepared for the public meeting by Professor Jobberns. He said they were chosen to draw attention to the places which already gave the precinct a good start, and also the kind of uncontrolled intrusion which was hastening the decay of beauty and dignity. Redevelopment of Area A lot of the wooden-frame houses in the area, which were characteristic of Christchurch or any part of urban New Zealand, were coming to the end of their days, Professor Jobberns said. His slides would show arrest ; ngly things that might miss casual notice. “I argue that the time is rapidly approaching when this whole area will have to be redeveloped by somebody,” he continued. “That raises the question whether, if the university is removed to Riccarton, this area will lose one of the mainstays to its special character. That, I think, would be a civic tragedy.” The basis for a precinct could be shown now, Professor Jobberns said Ultimate prospects could best be drawn from the imagination of young architects and planners. One of his supporters had suggested a competition for planning a pile of modern buildings which would serve similarly to present institutions without clashing with them in form. “Some of our old stone buildings may not be very functionally attractive inside by modern standards, but many of them are beautiful and are a legacy from the pioneers,” Professor Jobberns said. “We should have feeling for them. If some of the temporary structures and decaying buildings nearby were removed, they would be better appreciated.” Professor Jobberns said he wished to make it perfectly clear that this meeting had nothing to do with the municipal elections. It was purely coincidental that this interest in civic planning should arise at the same time. However, both matters were in the hands of citizens.