Councillors Discuss Park Road Issues

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32394, 5 September 1970, Page 14

Councillors Discuss Park Road Issues

Citizens’ Association councillors—of whom there are 17, including the Mayor (Mr A. R. Guthrey) on the 20-strong Christchurch City Council—met last evening to discuss legal issues arising from the ruling of the Minister of Lands (Mr Maclntyre) on the proposed deviation of Harper Avenue across North Hagley Park.

It is known that some councillors consider that the City Council had the power to put the road across the park when it was first decided to do so, for the park was then administered under the Christchurch Domains Act, 1946.

But having brought the park under the Reserves and Domains Act, 1953, it was recognised that the consent of the Minister to the work must be sought The Minister having been advised by the Crown Law Office that he had not the power to consent a question of law has arisen whether, in fact the Minister has the power to consent or not In Christchurch legal circles, the opinion is that the Minister does have the power to «ive his consent. This view was also expressed to the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening by Mr B. J. Drake, a leading Christchurch barrister and solicitor.

Asked to comment on last evening’s Citizens’ Association meeting, Cr H. P. Smith, the Deputy Mayor and chairman of the Citizens’ Association, said that the matter would be discussed at a meeting. of the full council at 5 p.irf. on Monday. But it was true, he said, that the object of last evening’s meeting was to discuss the legal issues arising as a result of the advice the Minister had been given by the Crown Law Office.