Chamber Will Support Buying “Mona Vale”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 1

Chamber Will Support Buying “Mona Vale”

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has decided to continue Dressing for the acquisition of the “Mona Vale” property for the people of Christchurch.

Members of the Chamber of Commerce Council met at “Mona Vale” yesterday and discussed ways of saving the property for the city.

The council decided that:— A sub-committee be set up to discuss all aspects of the matter with the Regional Planning Authority. The sub-committee be given power to act and power to co-opt. In discussion with the RegionPlanning Authority consideration be given to launching a public appeal and negotiating a longterm agreement with the vendors.

The chairman of the industrial ’and city development committee of the chamber (Mr R. K. Baker) said members of the committee had already agreed unanimously that Mona Vale be purchased as a public amenity provided its use was safeguarded to the extent of there being access at all reasonable hours of the day and night. Some members had at first opposed the purchase on the grounds that there were more

parks in the city in relation to its size than any other city in the world; the property would not be suitable for sporting activities; the purchase of the property would create a greater preponderance of parks and reserves in one area of the city at the expense of other areas where a dearth existed; demolition of the house would make the property more attractive. The arguments in favour had been that “Mona Vale” would be ideal for receptions and conferences, would compensate for that section of Hagley Park lost to the motorway, and that the property represented the last opportunity to acquire a recreational area close to the centre of the city. Mr M. L. Newman urged the purchase of the property as a desirable place to show tourists. He said tourism, apart from farming, was the only increase to overseas exchange. “This sort of property is what tourists like to visit in cities,” Mr Newman said.

Mr R. C. Neville said the first thing was to get the property. “I don’t care if we can’t maintain it for 10 years. Let the thing rot. The trees won’t rot,” he said. Mr B. J. Drake urged that a long term-agreement be

negotiated with the vendors as an alternative to finding the full amount sought in cash. He also suggested that money be raised by public appeal.

Mr F. Tomlinson said the chamber should go to the public with a debenture issue so that the subscribers would have a real Investment Parts of the property might then be offered to overseas airlines for the construction of hotels without disturbing the natural layout of the place. The president of the chamber (Mr R. E. Smith) closed the meeting with the observation that whenever something of benefit to Christchurch was mooted it was “invariably either delayed or ignored by a minority who are always vociferous and not very well informed.”