HAGLEY PARK DECISION

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 1

HAGLEY PARK DECISION

Minister ‘Not Stampeded’ (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 21. The Minister of Lands (Mr MacIntyre) considers he has not been stampeded into premature action on Hagley Park by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr A. R. Guthrey).

The Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) said today that the Cabinet would consider the matter on Monday.

Mr Guthrey had said he would order work to resume on the Harper Avenue deviation through Hagley Park next week if there was not a Government decision. “I find it hard to believe that the Mayor of Christchurch would defy the law, because this would precipitate counter-measures against law-breaking,” said Mr MacIntyre this afternoon. GOVT STUDY "The Hagley Park situation has been before the Government for some time for the study of proposals and alternatives. “I hope to give a decision

on this matter shortly—but Hagley Park is too serious a problem to be taken lightly, or to be decided without full Investigation,” Mr Maclntyre said.

Mr Guthrey said last evening his statement that the City Council would go ahead and build the road through Hagley Park, with or without the Government's decision, had borne fruit “It has accelerated the Government decision because the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) informed me this afternoon that Cabinet would consider the matter and he would give the City Council a decision on Monday evening or Tuesday,” Mr Guthrey said. He said he had never asked Mr Maclntyre for a favourable decision. The City Council had not “lobbyed” in the matter. POSSIBLE APPEAL Neither he nor the council had ever contemplated breaking the law, because any decision on the matter could be appealed against, Mr Guthrey said. The council, once any appeal had been made, should that be necessary, would accept the decision as final.

“I had asked Cr W. Cowles, chairman of the works and services committee, to call a meeting on Monday with a view to making a decision about going ahead with the road. However, after the Prime Minister assured me that Cabinet would be considering the question on Monday, I asked Mr Cowles not to bother calling his committee together.”