NEW $l0,000 GIFT

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31530, 18 November 1967, Page 1

NEW $l0,000 GIFT

The chairman of the “Mona Vale” appeal committee (Mr John Oakley) announced last night a new, major addition to the list of subscribers:

Jack and Marjorie Ferrier, $lO,OOO. The gift is contingent on the eventual purchase of the property and on its being used for public recreational and cultural purposes.

“We want no tags except that the property should be preserved and kept avail-

able for the use of all the people of the growing metropolitan area of Christchurch,” Mr Ferrier told “The Press.”

He added: "And I would like it to be known that, if the efforts of Mr Oakley’s public - spirited committee should fail—but I don’t believe Christchurch people will let it fail— v/e expect to have deducted from the money returned to us our due proportion of the cost of the campaign to raise funds. “I would be very surprised indeed to find any other contributor objecting to paying his proportion of the costs if it should all turn out to be a gallant failure." The additional open space was desirable now. In a few years it would be needed desperately. Other Cities

“I have been in most countries in the world and I do not know any city that is not looking for additional parks and recreation areas,” said Mr Ferrier.

“Many of them are spending huge sums to buy properties and clear the buildings from them. Christchurch has the opportunity now to save its future citizens at least some of this trouble and expense. “To me it seems incredible short-sightedness to neglect the opportunity of keeping ‘Mona Vale’ for our present and future citizens.” The appeal committee on “Mona Vale” was not prepared to accept defeat, said the chairman (Mr John Oakley) yesterday afternoon. “I am tremendously heartened by the $lO,OOO gift of Mr and Mrs Jack Ferrier, and I am certain other people will be ready to respond in a similar way to save ‘Mona Vale' at the eleventh hour,” said Mr Oakley. He felt many people had been withholding support, expecting the councils involved eventually to reach agreement. It was to be hoped they would now come to the aid of the appeal committee.

Asked to comment on claims made by the chairman of the Waimairi County Council (Mr D. B. Rich), the chairman of the Regional Planning Authority (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) said statements made by Mr Rich were extraordinary to say the least. Mr Bradshaw produced a copy of a deed signed on July 13 in which a promise to contribute $50,000 towards the preservation of Mona Vale as a public amentity is clearly set out. The conditions stated that the deed should cease to have effect should the purchase not take place within six months, or if the donor became liable for gift duty.