Town Hall Site

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29389, 16 December 1960, Page 3

Town Hall Site

Sir, —The generosity of Mr and Mrs Jack Ferrier and the broadmindedness of Mr Ferrier as a member of the Canterbury Club encourage the hope for a happy settlement of the town hall site as chosen by the qualified experts. Over 12 months ago, at least three sites within a quarter of a mile of Cathedral square, including the big N.A.C. site 100 yards from the club, and two river-front sites, both of half an acre, were available to the club. Allowing £20,000 for a new site, though both the riverfrontage properties were eventually sold for less than that figure, one wonders if the club has set aside £30,000 for rebuilding on its present property, let alone £55,000, which would be available in the council’s later offer of £75,000. If not, the ‘management •; committee’s uncompromising and self-centred" attitude cannot be understood. The interests of .'>oo,ooo are more important than those of 500, who can be fairly compensated.— Yours, etc., CITY FIRST. December 15, 1960.

Sir,—After perusing the vast number of letters written on this subject I am convinced that the great majority of your correspondents have .never seen inside a town hall (city hall, please). Our city hall should be a civic centre in every sense of the word and if properly constructed should occupy a whole block. Most of your correspondents support the Latimer square site, but what a place to erect it, with a broadcasting tower, and trades hall on one side and some dilapidated buildings on the other! Where in Christchurch is a better site than facing the river and the Scott memorial? The building, of course, would be well back from the terrace and on an elevated site. As far as the Canterbury Club building is concerned, this is an old wooden building over 60 years old and used by a very few citizens for amusement and pleasure. The offer of £75,000 for the building and site is more than liberal and the club could buy a site, say in Latimer square, and erect new premises for something less than the council’s offer. I trust the club members’ sense of civic pride will alter their decision not to sell. —Yours, etc., ESSAY. December 15, 1960.

Sir, —There is something which some people overlook in clamouring for the site of the club. It is tradition. It has always been there from the beginning. A new, modern place could never have the atmosphere of the old. It is well that some people value that; and I, with hundreds more, think the club is sacred to the members who founded it. Often I, as an old Londoner, go and stand near and watch the members go in and out. It reminds me of the Pall Mall clubs and takes away the nostalgia to see them a little. The Gentlemen’s Club is an institution and should be sacrosanct.—Yours, etc., 68 December 15, 1960.