Civic Trust Not In Competition

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 23

Civic Trust Not In Competition

The Christchurch Civic Trust was not trying to cut the grass from under the feet of the many other similar bodies working in Christchurch, Mr John Oakley assured the trust's members. Mr Oakley, chairman of the trust board, told the first meeting of members that while the trust was working along the same lines as other societies it embraced a wider field. “1 want the other societies to know that we are not trying to rule them or push them out of business, but that we are working with them,” he said. Among the groups represented at the meeting were the Christchurch Beautifying Association, the Canterbury Progress League, the Historic Places Trust, the Canterbury Pilgrims’ Association, the Friends of the Museum, and the Canterbury Horticultural Society. Mr Oakley said they had all been working quietly for many years, doing good work for the city. Christchurch was unique in having so many groups which were interested in the city. Mr Oakley said the Civic Trust had no authority over the city, and could influence events only through public opinion, by making suggestions to local bodies. He said the trust could call on the best advice from architects, artists, sculptors and designers—the right people for the right job. Mr H. G. Royds told the meeting that he had found the Peacock fountain in a yard at the Botanic Gardens It was a massive structure, about 20ft high and a remarkable piece of engineering. Unfortunately the herons which once stood “in most beautiful attitudes" on the second tray of the fountain were now missing. “They are the kind of things people could use in their gardens,” said Mr Royds, “and if this is given

some publicity, we might get them back.” He said the trust had written to the Christchurch Beautifying Association, which had been instrumental in having the fountain erected in 1911, to ask if it would like the trust’s help in having it reinstated somewhere. The members were shown two films—one about a street in Norwich, England, which had been given a “face lift” by the civic trust there, and another about the new satellite town of Harlow, near London.