A CIVIC SQUARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23805, 11 May 1939, Page 17

A CIVIC SQUARE

TO THE EDITOR

Sir—What is the matter with Dunedin? The city is at a standstill, practically speaking, and this is no secret. Other cities in the Dominion are expanding enormously. Recently in Dunedin Mr W. E. Parry asked, “ What is Dunedin doing about secondary industries —the Government has heard nothing from Dunedin?” Is it stage-fright, or have we all developed a dormant stage of life? The question of a civic square was a very live one some time ago, but since ♦he City Council received the official Ministerial reply turning down the proposals made everybody appears to have taken the thrashing lying down It is time our Mayor called a public meeting on this question, and I fee! that Dunedin’s only Cabinet Minister (Mr F. Jones) should be asked to state frankly what attitude he has taken up behind the scenes on this question Has he some pet scheme of his own to foist on to the Dunedin public? If co. why is he not frank enough to take the public into his confidence? Are his constituents not entitled to some account of his stewardship regarding ♦his vital question? It is not only the danger that confronts us at this moment, but that which will inevitably confront the citizens of Dunedin within the next 50 years which it is our duty to provide against and we will be guilty of a serious crime if we allow a new building to be erected on the present site of the old Telegraph Office Building. The clearance of this building would be a wonderful acquisition to this city, and I am sure the next generation would be more than grateful for such provision. It is time all public bodies got to work seriously on this proposition and get behind the Dunedin City Council Even the Otago Expansion League appears to be half-hearted on the question.—l am. etc., Early Settler. Dunedin. May !0.