Can Go Ahead With Statue Of Maori

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 6

Can Go Ahead With Statue Of Maori

"The Pre»»" Special Service AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. The casting of the Maori statue by Molly Macalister commissioned for lower Queen street has now been approved by the Auckland City Council's finance committee.

Last week the council had delayed the casting because several city councillors, led by Mr F. N. Ambler, had questioned its design. The Mayor, Dr. R. G. McElroy. said the committee had accepted a ruling by the city solicitor, Mr H. J. Butler, that Miss Macalister had obeyed the instructions in an agreement with the council to design a Maori figure in traditional form.

There had been legitimate doubt whether the instructions had been adhered to, but it had been cleared up and work would proceed, he said.

“The city solicitor s opinion was quite clear that Miss Macalister had observed her instructions,” he said. Mr F. N. Ambler, former chairman of the council parks and library committee, who had criticised the statue, said later that he accepted the position but still felt the original agreement should have been phrased to give the committee a say in the final acceptance of the statue. The agreement stated that the statue was to be completed to the satisfaction of the director of the Art Gallery. Looks Warlike

When told of the committee decision. Miss Macalister said she was pleased and relieved.

“I am very glad it is all over,” she said. “When 1 look up at the figure it looks quite warlike to me." Because of the instruction to stop work on the statute a week ago, she said, it could be two months before it was completed. The bronze caster. Mr R. Ramby, had begun other work and might have to work on the statue in stages. The siting of the statue is still an open question in spite of a decision by the parks and library committee that it be placed in the

original position chosen outside the chief post office. Some council members flavour a site further north toward Quay street so that the figure faces the see. Others prefer a site on the traffic island at the corner of Quay and Albert streets. There is also a difference of opinion among those who support the original poeitiea. Some say the statue should face the sea, others that tt should flace the port office and still others want i with its back to the port office to face the proposed Queen Square in the Harbour Board development plan.