CATHEDRAL SITE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 254, 23 July 1937, Page 10

CATHEDRAL SITE

Will Government Sell Crown Property? CHURCH INTENTIONS The site on the corner of Hill Street and Molesworth Street selected this week by the Wellington Diocesan Synod for the proposed Anglican Cathedral, includes the Prime Minister’s residence and other Crown properties, and since the announcement of synod s decision there has been some speculation as to whether the Government will be prepared to sell these properties. In the following letter to the editor of “The Dominion,” the Bishop of Wellington, Kt. Rev. 11. St. Barbe Holland, explains the position of the Church in the matter :—

“Sir. —May 1 through your columns make one or two statements which will answer certain questions which must be in the minds of the public with-re-gard to the projected Anglican Cathedral in 'Wellington.

- “The diocesan synod unanimously resolved to buy what is now known as the Hill Street-Molesworth Street site with the knowledge that the possibility of carrying out the project depended entirely on the availability of the property owned by the Crown on that site. The Acting-Prime Minister has very kindly -written to me in the following terms: —'Your representations regarding the property owned by the Crown will be placed before Cabinet for consideration when the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister, and the Hon. the Minister of Finance, return to New Zealand.’ It is, of course, obvious that some time must elapse before I know whether the Government finds itself able to accede to my request.

‘-‘ln the second place, if the Hill Street-Molesworth Street site should for any reason not be available, it is still certain that the project of the cathedral will go forward as the synod passed other resolutions providing for alternative sites.

“This must make it dear that the Diocese has committed itself definitely to laying the foundation stone of a Cathedral in 1940.

“In the third place, there is going to be no definite appeal for funds for the cathedral and other purposes, outlined in synod as a worthy honouring of the centenary of Wellington, until after the synod meets again in July, 1938. The intervening year will be spent in securing plans and discovering the cost of the project in order that, When it. is made, the appeal may be for a definite building and a definite sum of money.

“May I, however, say in conclusion, that I shall gladly and gratefully receive during this next year any gifts or promises toward the funds needed for the cathedral. Such gifts and promises will form a strong foundation for the general appeal when it is made. — I am, etc., HERBERT WELLINGTON (Bishop). CABINET TO DECIDE Acting-Prime Minister’s Statement Asked what was the Government’s .attitude to the Church’s desire to purchase the section on which stands the Prime Minister’s residence and other Crown property on the site selected for the cathedral, the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, said that he had been approached' by the Bishop of Wellington, but that the reply would rest with Cabinet, and could not be decided until the return of the Prime Minister and Mr. Nash, “It is essential that as full a Cabinet as possible, including the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, and the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, should decide a matter of so important a nature,” said Mr. Fraser. “It must be approached by the Government from the point of view that, the nationallyowned land in question is held in trust for the people, and not for any particular section. Obviously the question is so very important that it cannot, bo decided hastily; moreover, -there are many circumstances that have to be taken into account. The Government can be depended upon to take a fair view of the matter, with the interests of all concerned in mind.”