Planning Of New Courts To Begin

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 19

Planning Of New Courts To Begin

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, May 15. The Justice Department has completed its survey of space requirements for a new Courts of Justice building in Christchurch, and will pass on these requirements to the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) so that planning can be begun.

This advice was given by the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) to a deputation from the Canterbury Law Society. Mr Hanan said that the plans would not at this stage encompass the Durham street Art Gallery site. The deputation, which consisted of the president of the Canterbury Law Society (Mr B. McClelland), the immediate past-president (Mr J. R. Williams), and the vicepresident (Mr V. G. Spiller), protested at the delay of 25 years which had occurred since the laying of the foundation stone. The deputation stressed the overcrowding and “dangerous decrepitude” of the' present 90-year-old building, and asked that its replacement should be given the highest priority. Art Gallery Details of negotiations between the Justice Department and the Canterbury Society of Arts were given by the assistant secretary of the Justice Department (Mr C. L. Cutler), who said that the acquisition of the Durham Street Art Gallery had been advised by the Ministry of Works for three reasons These were: the space would be available to allow building to proceed in suitable stages without the premature demolition of court buildings: there should be some “elbow-room” in planning: and the over-all plan would not be so cramped. The way is open for the Canterbury Society of Arts to sell the Durham street gallery for £23,800, purchase a property at 66 Gloucester street for £BBOO from the Justice Department, and begin building a new gallery; but the society is understood to be loath to proceed until it learns the fate of its application to the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council for a capital grant. “Priorities’* The decision to go ahead with the planning of the court building is understood to be linked with eventual inclusion of the Durham street gallery site. Departmental authorities still hope for an

i impressive and adequate • building covering most of the i area. “It would certainly not be correct to say that negotia- ! tions between the Justice De- ; partment and the Society of t Arts have broken down,” said a Justice Department officer - today. ! “It is simply a matter of ■ priorities. The arts people - are naturally concerned about . storage and other problems, - whereas we are desperately . anxious to press on with the > new building. lam sure that I any difficulties existing can ■ be adjusted to complete satisfaction on both sides.”