Vandalism feared at Provincial Buildings

Press, 31 January 1989, Page 4

Vandalism feared at Provincial Buildings

By

NIGEL MALTHUS

The Canterbury Provincial Buildings are at risk of vandalism and arson, according to the volunteer guides who show visitors around the historic complex.

In a letter considered at the buildings’ management committee meeting yesterday, one of the guides, Mr Trevor Lord, said that “off-duty” guides had twice found external doors left open after 9 p.m. He and his fellow guides were also concerned that the Stone Chamber, used as the debating chamber by the Canterbury provincial government last century, was left open and unattended during working hours. A name gouged into the woodwork, and smashed gas lamp brackets in the adjacent office, were a warning of the severe vandalism which could occur, said Mr Lord. The Historic Places Trust had also expressed

concern that the Stone Chamber was left open during the day.

Most of the rest of the complex is leased to the Justice Department, and is in use as courtrooms during working hours. The committee chairman, Cr Oscar Alpers, said that the Justice Department presence tended to attract “the wrong sort of people,” and Justice Department premises were about 20 times more likely than anywhere else to be vandalised. In all other respects, however, the department was a very suitable tenant, he said. The department was expected to vacate at least some of the complex when its new building was completed, and the committee was told that some

new tenant might then be appointed custodian. Arguing that the Stone Chamber should be available to visitors, the Canterbury United Council chief executive, Mr Malcolm Douglass, suggested the committee defer stricter security until the tenancy was sorted out. The committee decided, however, that the adjacent office and overlooking balconies — less visible and hance more vulnerable to vandals — would be kept locked unless a guide was present. Yesterday’s meeting was the first for the new management committee appointed by the C.U.C. The Canterbury Provincial Buildings were previously administered bv a

single-purpose board which was disbanded under the Government's drive to rationalise “quangos” and the buildings were vested in the C.U.C. last year. The new management committee comprises four C.U.C. members, Crs Alpers, Margaret Murray, Dick Harrington, and Maurice Carter; the council’s chief executive, Mr Douglass; a member of Parliament, Mrs Margaret Austin; a representative of the Institute of Architects, Mr Don Donnithorne; a representative of the Historic Places Trust, Mr lan Taylor. Mr Derek Morse and Dr lan Lockhead, both guides for the buildings, were nominated yesterday as two further members.