The Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1908. THE GODLEY STATUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9211, 14 April 1908, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1908. THE GODLEY STATUE.

At its meeting last night the City Council decided by nine votes to six to rescind its previous resolution to shift the Godley statue from its present site to one in the Cathedral grounds, which had beerT kindly offered by the Cathedral Chapter. The reversal of the decision seems to have been the outcome of a pressure of public opinion, thoUgh we doubt if that opinion represents the feeling of the great mass of indifferent citizens. The opposition to the shifting of the statue is admitted to be one of pure sentiment, and it is easily understood that the older citizens, some few of whom were contemporaries of John Robert Godley, and others of whom can remember his name as familiar in the households of their youth, may lose a little of their sense of perspective when it is sought to lay alien hands upon the memorial to his name which their fathers erected. The feeling is a perfectly natural one, but the mistake that is made is in the belief that any sacrilege is intended. All that the Council proposed to do was to put the statue where it should have been placed originally, and where it would be safe for all time. In a few years a generation will have arisen that knows not Joseph, and it is absolutely certain that the statue will ultimately , have to make way for the public convenience. Its friends would have been consulting their own best interests by approving of the change of position of the statue now, to a site which may not be available when next it is required. However, in the meantime the authorities have decided to allow it to remain where it is, and we suppose that a fierce controversy will proceed to rage around the tramway shelter. It has been proposed to cnt it in two, to cut off tho ends, to alter its design, to cut down the trees behind it, and to raise the statue in order that the public may 1 have an uninterrupted view of it. But it is really very doubtful if the public is aching for an unrestricted view of the statue. It is certainly more concerned with Seeping its feet dry in wet weather while waiting for the trams, and whatever alteration is made the Council and the Tramway Board will find a very strong body of public opinion demanding that they should bear this in mind. Any attempt to have the shelter removed altogether or the construction of the other 'conveniences stopped will meet with very strong opposition from a large body of the ratepayers. Ther« is, of course, no objection to tho statue remaining; where it is if its friends prefer the inferior site, but the public convenience must take precedence in any further consideration, of the position.. It does not seem at all impossible, for a time at any rate, to arrive at a compromise that will satisfy both parties. The whole incident has been given an. exaggerated importance, but we. are still regretful that the Council did not adhere to its original decision and placo the statue where it rightly belongs, in the shadow of the Cathedral close, where it would have remained a striking ornament and a speaking lesson of a life well-lived for many generations to come.