WAR MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 149, 23 March 1928, Page 12

WAR MEMORIAL

THE BATTLE OF THE SITES NO ENCROACHMENT ON BASIN RESERVE DISCUSSION BY CITY COUNCIL Some misunderstanding as to the exact dimensions of the city’s proposed war memorial was revealed at the meeting of the City Council last night, when the question of site was again under discussion. The weight of opinion was against ai.y encroachment on the play, ing area of the Basin Reserve, and it was eventually decided that the council consult with the War Memorial Committee as to the exact dimensions. The matter of the Wellington War Memorial site cropped up at (he meeting of the City Council last night. The Mayor stated that seme of the councillors' had met on the Basin Reserve, and as the result they. had a plan prepared by the town planning officer (Mr. Butcher) to guide them in the matter. He said that a committee had been set up to go into the matter. 'Three sites were named —one at the northern end of Courtenay Place, which Was ruled out as unsuitable, and the other two at the Basin Reserve and the Parliamentary grounds, both of which were considered possible sites. He said that the depth of the plan supplied to them was 4-Ift., but Mr. Hurst Seager had since stated that the depth was 25ft. Encroachment on Playing Area. On being consulted as to was the actual depth) Mr. Butcher said that the depth of the memorial was 38ft., which would mean an encroach ment of 9ft. on the actual playing area. A proposal had been made that the encroachment should be made on the street instead of on to the reserve, but he was wholly opposed to that, as Buckle Street was destined to be a verv important thoroughfare, apart altogether from any report from the Access Committee, on account of the gift of the Mount Cook site to the city. Mr. Butcher was also of the same opinion, and he was sure any townplanner would agree with him.

Mr. Hurst Seager’s Assurance. Councillor H. D. Bennett said he had been assured by Mr. Hurst Seager that day that the memorial could be erected on the straightened footpath, and still not encroach on the playing area, and if it were built on the line of the existing footpatli it would not only not encroach on the playing area, but would not even encroach on the footpath in the Basin Reserve. It appeared that there had been an alteration in the plans, and that this alteration had brought about the difference in measurement as submitted by the Mayor and Mr. Hurst-Seager. He suggested that the War Memorial Committee be asked to define the position, and that their officers be asked to peg, off the site. As it was, they were, not in a position to come to a deci-' sion. Personalty, if the memorial were going to encroach upon the playing area, he would hesitate at giving his consent. He moved that the committee be approached to define the measurements of the site required to accommodate the memorial. As a general principle, he would be opposed to any obstruction in. the streets that would require motors and vehicles to go round. If .there were a conference with the War Memorial Committee, knowing the council’s attitude, it might be possible to bring the plans within the requirements. He could forsee the time when the road would go through the Basin Reserve, leaving small play areas for children. The cricket and football fields would go.

“Something Wrong With Informa, tion.” Th time was not ripe for discussion, as there was something wrong in the information before them, said Councillor M. F. Luckie. To reduce it to a ten-foot pathway would be a serious matter, for they had an experience of what the position was like there when the Australian cricketers were playing there. There would be an outcry against any encroachment on the playing area at the Basin Reserve, and there would be no possibility of coming to a decision unless they could show that the ground would not be interfered with. They should confer with the War Memorial Committee and inform the public what would be the consequence of allowing them to take that site. Councillor C. D. Morpeth said that whilst he was entirely in favour of the site at the Basin Reserve, he was inflexibly opposed to it if it were going to encroach upon the playing area, as it would seriously interfere with the running course and the cricket and t football matches. “Revise the Plan.” The Mayor said it was evident that the opinion of the council was that there should be no encroachment on the playing area or the street, but if the memorial could be erected between those two areas there would be no objection to granting the site. The matter might go back to the War Memorial Committee asking them if

the plan could not be altered in conformity with those views. Councillor J. Burns said that he favoured the site if there was to be no encroachment on the playing area. Councillor R. McKeen, said it seemed to him that there must be art encroachment either on the road or, the playing area. Councillor R. Semple was opposed to anv encroachment whatsoever. The Mayor said that from a deputation which waited upon him he gathered that the committee wished -a footpath to go right round the monument, in addition to the ordinary footpath in front—really a double footpath. Asked as to who was included in the deputation, the Mayor named its members. , > . Councillor Luckier And they are all opposed to the Basin Reserve site. Councillor T. C. A. Hislop said he judged from the remarks of councillors that the sports bodies, as represented bv Councillor Luckie, were not prepared to forgo anything inside the reserve, and that the council would not allow anv encroachment, as they thought Ruckle Street was goiim to be another Piccadilly or Champs Hlysee (which would not be the case for at least another fiftv years), or that the memorial design should be modified to suit the site—which, of course; could never be, as it would destroy at once the beantv of its grace and svmmetrv. Tn that case he hoped the site would revert to the one hallowed by memories of the past. Councillor Morpeth moved as an amendment that the council annrove. the site providing the memorial did not encroach upon the playing area. Bv that he meant that it could encroach upon the reserve, but not upon the actual .plaving area. , • • Councillor Luckie: That’s going a little too far.

There was no seconder to the amendment. Councillor’s Bennett’s motion that the council consult with the War Memorial Committee as to the dimensions of the memorial was then passed.