HOWLING DOWN THE OPPOSITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18452, 1 May 1928, Page 8

HOWLING DOWN THE OPPOSITION.

MORE VITUPERATIVE and unmeasured language than that indulged in by the Mayor and councillors at the expense of the Canterbury Women’s Club would be very hard to imagine. The club, in a public spirited way, protested against the erection of additional lavatories in the centre of Cathedral Square, and urged the removal of the present “ utilities,’’ which were described by Councillors Armstrong and Roberts as an “ abomination ” and a “ disgrace to the city.” Yet these two councillors, taking their cue from the Mayor, joined in a chorus of vituperationHhat has never been paralleled, we venture to think, in any local body. The letter was described as extraordinary, unwomanly, the sort of thing that a “ hooligan ” or “ silly young flapper ” might write, ignorant, stupid, irresponsible, regardless of facts, deserving of the severest snub, inspired, insincere, propagandist, selfish, impracticable, hysterical, “ not calm or measured” (and that, we think, was the limit), insane, and worthy to be ignored. And what was this horrid letter that raised such a storm of indignation in the minds of Labour councillors? It read, simply:— We the committee of the Canterbury Women's Club, representins nearly '4OO women of this city, desire to protest in the strongest possible terms against any further desecration and defilement of Cathedral Square by building additional conveniences there. We feel as do all the ratepayers of Christchurch who count beauty, decency and the fitness of things above mere utility, that the present “ utilities ” in the square should never have been placed m their present position, and would strongly urge their removal to remoter parts of the city. . If it is necessary to have conveniences in the centre of the city at all, we would suggest that they be built anywhere rather than in front of our beautiful Cathedral. If a tramway shelter can be made in some odd place like the present one for the Linwood and Dallington trams why could not others for trams such as Nos. 8,5, etc., be built in several different places—at the Tramway Board’s present offices, for instance —with the conveniences, if necessary, underground ; and so remove altogether the hideous and obnoxious structure in the centre of the square. ' Trusting you will see that our'protest is merely in defence of the ordinary decencies of life, wc are, gentlemen. Yours truly. The Committee of the Canterbury Women’s Club. Readers of the letter will see at a glance that, whether one might agree with its views or not, it was worthy of respectful consideration, and that the scornful terms with which it was received were applicable rather to its critics than to its authors. With a lamentably weak case in support of its plans for disfiguring the square, the Council, after spending more than an hour in abuse of an inoffensive group of women citizens, decided solemnly to ignore them. But the mere ignoring of public opinion will not alter the fact that the vast majority of Christchurch people are opposed to the council’s plans, and that is why the council dare not trust the ratepayers with a vote on the question.