Town Hall

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28958, 28 July 1959, Page 3

Town Hall

Sir,—So the open spaces of Christchurch are once again under attack. I hope those who rallied to save Hagley Park from sacrifice to an engineering blunder will rally to save Latimer and Cranmer squares from the current attack of civic mean-mindedness. Christchurch needs a town hall and can easily afford to create such an asset without destroying other assets. —Yours, etc., M.I.H. July 26, 1959.

Sir, —I wish to commend the clarity and integrity of “Individualist” on Thursday. An unfair and arbitrary acquisition price is suffered by the owner alone, and the unfair advantage favours the users. If it is claimed that the acquisition is for the people, then they should pay the same way as any other purchaser in the sale and purchase of a property, and even a little more liberally. The owners of the to-be-compul-sorily-acquired club property have been in pleasing occupation for very many years, acquired in foresight and courage. It is shocking that the eyes can be picked out of the properties, particularly as it would not be used universally as, for instance, a road or post office, in which case all the people contribute. —Yours, etc., SECOND INDIVIDUALIST. July 27, 1959.

Sir, —Latimer square is the ideal place for a town hall. Why waste thousands of pounds purchasing property to pull down buildings when we already have a clear ground? One can pass Latimer square any, time of day and never see any more than a dozen or so people occupying the ground. Furthermore, only a quarter of the property would be used for the building. The rest of the ground could be laid out in lawns and gardens. At present it is only a glorified farm paddock. We still have a long way to go for the necessary finance When I was in business, I found it easy to play with someone else’s money, until I was reminded by my bankers.—Yours etc., , EASY COMES, EASY GOES. July 27. 1959.

Sir, —I am disappointed and dismayed to read that the City Council is determined to use the Canterbury Club block, one of the most congested traffic areas in Christchurch, when other more suitable sites are available. No mention has been made by the Town Hall Promotion Committee or any member of the City Council as to the position of accommodation for some 50 tenants occupying part of this b.lock. May I point out that 75 per cent, of these tenants are on fixed incomes paid by the Social Security Department and therefore cannot pay the high rents being asked today. Would some official make a statement through your paper regarding this matter?—Yours, etc., WONDERING. July 27, 1959.