"A BIT OF OUR OWN!"

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 8

"A BIT OF OUR OWN!"

4, A CHRISTCHURCH CITY REQUEST. I'EFUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT. Oil Wednesday a deputation consisting oi the Mayor of (Jhristchurch (Mr. Dougall), Al e.-.-rs. (J-n. Harper, borons on, and Dr. Thacker waited on tlip Primp Minister with the request that the old Provincial Chambers and the lam! nn which tlr.\v stand on the banks of the Avon be vested ill the city as a site for a Town Hall and Government offices combined. 11l reply to the deputation's request, Sir .Toteph Ward said that throe limes during his administration Cabinet had had to authorise t.hs purchase of lands in Christ-church for pulilic buildings, and the same had been done in (he other centres and many of the smaller towns', and wherever it was necessary to buy property, with rare exceptions, the owners tried to wrest the highest fraction out of tho country through the Government. 110 could not sec that it was better for the municipality to own land for tho use of the people of the city than for tho Government to own it tor the use of the people of the city. If he could sec any dilierenco he would not bo justified in declining the request, but in Wellington the Government had had to pav large sums for properties for which tho necessity had not been dreamed of in the early days. Before Christchurch was ver'v nuicii older it would require more post ofhco accommodation, and when the Government wanted a property it would have to pay a high price for it. Every member of the deputation, if placed iu bis position, would bo compelled, frankly, to decline the request. To grant it would not bo a business transaction from tho point of view of tho country, lie wanted to help the cities in any reasonable way possible, but to givo up land would cause a deluge of similar requests from all over New Zealand. These were made already, but invariably they had to be declined. Or. Thacker Explains. Speaking to a Dominion' reporter Dr. Thacker stated from the report published which only gave the Prime Minister's views, none could gather anything of tho justice of the deputation's claims. "In ISS!, the Canterbury Association allocated a number of reserves for parks, schools, etc., including a site on the banks of tho Avon (used by the Provincial Council) which was to be used as a site for tho hospital. It was,. however, found unsuitable for that purpose, and instead of using it the Government annexed a corner of Hagley Park, which, by the way, had been donated to Hie public of Christchurch as a recreation ground iVir ever more. In 1875 the Abolition Bill, abolishing Provincial Councils, was passed, but before the General Government could take charge (here was an interregnum of threo years. Mr. \Vm. l(e«ves was appointed superintendent' during the caTly part of that period,, but was. soon replaced by Mr. Kolleston, who was a large-hearted-and capable gentleman, but was inclined to go 100 far in placing the interests of tho whole of the colony before I'hose of Canterbury. At that 'time tho Otago, Wellington, and Auckland Provincial Councils were in a bad way financially, so it was from the Canterbury Provincial Council that funds were secured t'o carry on certain general Government works, viz., the railways lo Timaru and North Canterbury, the construction of the tunnel and the railway to Lyt'telton, besides the crection of asylums, hospitals, schools, and other institutions. In short, within that period of three years a debt of *3,250,000 was incurred in Canterbury, the money for these works was found by selling Canterbury Crown lands, which was to be the heritage of the peoplo for all time. Immediately on the Act coming into operation all the works were handed over to the general Government without let or liiudrancc, Mr. Kolleston having had a free hand during the time he was in charge. The tunnel and railway to lo'ttelton were built out of funds realised by tho sale of endowment reserves, .which is a very wrong thing, and that is why Canterbury is now starving for education endowments. We have no reserves like you have in Wellington aud Auckland—all we have is a little laud at Goraldine and some tussock-land at Now Brighton. And, to come ba6k to 'tho Provincial Chambers, all we want' is a bit of our own back—just a little of what was taken from us when we were not in a position to refuse, and what's more, we re going to get it-.

"The old Provincial Chambers is a beautiful bit of old" Gothic architecture," said Dr. Thackcr, "wliich no one wishes to despoil. Indeed, it is held in great sentimental regard by the people of Canterbury as a picturesque and enduring link with the post. As such no one would dare disturb it, but on the Durham Street, Armagh Street, and river frontages the wooden portion of the structure is in n bad state of decay, owing to the depredations of the borer, a.nd it is there that we contemplate building our Town Hall, in which wa propose to provide accommodation for some of tho Government offices. The whole of Christchurch is with us in this, and I would like to say that the late Mr. T. E. Taylor was a strong advocate of the scheme. Believe me, the matter is not going to be allowed to rest where it is."