“SAVE THE SQUARE”

Southland Times, Issue 20661, 17 April 1929, Page 6

“SAVE THE SQUARE”

COMMITTEE’S APPLICATION FOR

INJUNCTION

JUDGMENT RE-SERVED,

(Per United Tress Association.)

Christchurch,'April 16

A long wrangle between the Christchurch City Council and a group of citizens styling themselves the “Save the Square” Committee. has been before Mr Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court for determination during the past two days. In the square at present is a wooden tramway shelter admittedly unsightly. The council proposed months ago to remove this shelter and replace it with a permanent structure of much better design with lavatories. It is the permanence of the proposed new building that has agitated the “Save the Square” Committee into opposition. It had always been felt that the existing building was temporary and might one day be removed. „ They therefore resisted the erection of a building in brick or concrete.

The Labour Council refrained from determination of the matter by a poll of ratepayers. First they appealed to the Public Health Board to declare lavatories in the square a necessary work and to empower the council to proceed with it without a poll of ratepayers. This the Public Health Board refused to do. The council then proceeded by transferring a surplus from the electricity account of £BOOO to build the lavatories, the tramway board paying a share of the cost of the shelter. Against this action the “Save the Square” Committee proceeded by applying to the Supreme Court for an injunction. Necessarily the committee asked for much more than a prohibition of the council in the new proposal. They have cited original provincial ordinances and later special Acts of Legislature dedicating squares as a reserve to be held in trust by the City Council in an endeavour to show that all buildings are there illegally- and that they ought to be removed.

The main part of the council’s defence seems to be that the area covered by present and proposed buildings has become a street by usage. Mr Justice Herdman reserved his judgment. r

If the motion for an injunction is a success it will involve considerable alterations in the tramway system as it will be practically impossible to use the square as a central tramway station for the arrival and departure of cars. Already the question is being put forward as an issue at the municipal elections.