Town Hall Adviser In City Next Week

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29902, 16 August 1962, Page 17

Town Hall Adviser In City Next Week

Professor G. Stephenson, the Western Australian town planning expert, who is to report on the Christchurch town hall site, will arrive in Christchurch on August 25, a day later than had been expected. He will stay in Christchurch until September 2.

Professor Stephenson will be met at the airport by the Mayor (Mr G. Manning) and members of the council’s town hall committee. A social function will be held on August 27.

Reporting to the council last evening, the town hall committee said Professor Stephenson would find it helpful if on the first few days of his visit he could be accompanied by someone who was well-informed about the ci:y. The council agreed with the committee that Mr J. E. Foster, who retired recently from the position of town planning officer, should be asked to assist.

"The question has arisen whether administration offices should be erected adjacent to the town hall, and the committee has considered whether Professor Stephenson should be given some specific direction on this point,” the committee said. "Correspondence to and from Professor Stephenson indicates that he s to investigate a site for a town hall and civic centre. "However, the committee does not consider it wise to t.e his hands on any aspect. The committee is anxious to avoid anything which is likely to influence his decision and does not cons.der that any indication should be given as to whether new municipal offices may ulimately be erected adjacent or not. "The committee, however, will advise Professor Stephenson of its willingness to meet him at any time should he require it to do so to provide him with any assistance or information he may desire.” Office Accommodation "I am firmly of the opinion that a civic administration biock next to the town hall is a requirement of the very dls.ant future, if at all.” said Cr. G. A. G. Connal. The present administrative offices could be extended, he said, and if the Civic Theatre fell into disuse when a town hall was built, it could be used for accommodation.

“The question of administrative offices should not be discussed with Professor Stephenson at all.” he said. Information should be given to Professor Stephensen on the relative costs of sites, Cr. Connal cofitinued. “He knotvs that three or four acres in Hagley Park would cost nothing, compared with Cl CO.OOO for a site in the heart of the city. How is he going to be informed of some of these things without being influenced." The council had 446 acres in Hagley Park and 840 acres in suburban parks and reserves. Cr. Connal said.

"For my part, I feel that he should consider the possibility of setting aside three or four acres where there is ample and good transport,” he said. “There is a large body of opinion tending towards favouring the use of such an area fsom Hagley Park.”

Cr. H. P. Smith, chairman of the committee: It might be wise to keep our debate on what he should be told rather than the merits and demerits of using public reserves.

"We would be discussing a terrible lot at this late stage.” said Cr. R. M. Macfarlane. M.P. “I would like to say a lot about the use of Hagley Park, but I take it that the sites will be brought to his attention.” "Nothing should be done to influence Professor Stephenson’s opinion,” said Cr. Smith. “Obviously he must have the facts on the various sites that have been considered. Everything will be conducted with the utmost impartiality and scrupulous fairness.”

“Are we looking for the best site or the cheapest?” asked Cr. P. J. Skellerup. "The answers are not necessarily the same.”