Move On Town Hall By Council Welcomed

Press, Volume C, Issue 29526, 30 May 1961, Page 15

Move On Town Hall By Council Welcomed

The Christchurch City Council should be congratulated on its “statesmanlike approach to resolving a confusing situation” by deciding to invite Sir William Holford, an eminent town planning authority, to Christchurch as consultant on a town hall for the city, the president of Town Hall Promotion (Mr J. L. Hay) said last evening. Speaking at the annual general meeting of Town Hall Promotion. Mr Hay said the council had made an important decision in inviting' Sir William Holford to Christchurch. Sir William Holford would come to the city to act as consultant for the development of the central area, with particular reference to the site for a town hall, he said. "It is of vital consequence to the city that no mistake should be made in the siting of the town hall and this will also determine the location of the civic centre to be developed over the years. “Nothing less than the best advice is adequate on so vital an issue.”

Mr Hay said the city council was following a precedent it established when contemplating the development of Christchurch airport. Both the airport manager and the architect had been sent overseas to get the best advice and the result was evident in the magnificent airport building. Mr Hay said.

Objective Reached

“It gives me great satisfaction to be able to report the attainment of our objective

of £ 100,000. I repeat my thanks to everybody who has contributed in one way or another to enable us to reach this objective.” Mr Hay said that now the City Council had made the decision to invite an authority to advise on the development of the city's central area it was hoped that he would be left completely free to form his own judgments.

“It is therefore not unreasonable to suggest once Sir William Holford's acceptance of the City Council invitation has been received that newspaper comment on it should be withheld. “When his report is received bv all means let there then be public discussion. Until then the matter should be regarded as sub judice, as one would expect any issue in similar circumstances to be treated pending the decision of a properly constituted authority,” Mr Hay said. The chairman of the general committee (Mr C. L. Martin) said Town Hall Promotion had suggested some lime ago that the City Council should give consideration to employing a competent overseas authority to advise on a town hall and civic centre.

Mr Martin suggested that Town Hall Promotion should explore the ways in which a civic centre could be useful to the community. Mr Hay was re-elected president of Town Hall Promotion, Mr W. J. Cartwright was re-elected vice-president and Mr Martin was re-elected as chairman of the general committee.

Mr C. B. Wells was elected chairman of the publicity committee to take over the position vacated by Mr P. J. Skellerup. The whole of the general committee was re-elected and Mr A. Nettleton, who had to stand down from the committee about a year ago because of ill-health, was again elected.