“NOTHING BETTER THAN A FARCE,” SAYS R. E. GREEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 4

“NOTHING BETTER THAN A FARCE,” SAYS R. E. GREEN.

CRITICISES THE NEW LAY-OUT FOR SQUARE

USE OF FIRE STATION SITE FOR PLUNKET SOCIETY ILLEGAL.

“I have been asked by many people to express my views on the result of the conference about the Square,” said Mr R. E. Green this morning, “and I’d like to say that it is nothing better than a farce. I am bitterly opposed : to any disfigurement of the Square It was intended as a public reserve by the early settlers and should be used solely for the benefit of the citizens as a beauty spot. “I was here back in the ’fifties, and. though I am not one of the oldest, I heard what was going on in those days and understood what was intend ed. Many changes have come about since then. Then there was no thought of bicycles nor of motors. Our onehorse trams jogged through the city, waited an hour to pick up passengers, and jogged off again. There was plenty of room for what traffic there was. But now we must provide for motors. All traffic is moving faster. There is no room for double lines of tramway track in the principal streets nor should the Square be used as a shunting ground for trams. “My memory takes in the history of the Square well baok into last century Some time in the early 'seventies there was a great deal of correspondence between the Diocesan Synod and the City Council concerning the lay-out of the Square in front of the Cathedral. In IS7O Colombo Street had a large curve, as shown in the plans which have been published in the ‘Star.’ The City Council thought it would be bet- • ter if the street were straightened. To this the Synod could not agree, although they had almost abandoned the building of the Cathedral, for a straight road would have gone over the foundations. The Chapter had no power to sell ground. There was much correspondence as to what should be done, and the Chapter agreed to allow the Council to pull in the sweep of Colombo Street to within twenty feet of the formation of the tower That was a big concession, but the Council was not satisfied and asked for more. The Synod finally agreed to allow the City Council to pull the roadway in to within twelve feet of the foundation. They also gave ground on the north and south sides of the Cathedral grounds to widen the roadway and round off the corners “ This was done on the distinct understanding that Colombo Street should have a 50 feet carriageway with a footpath of not less than 18ft. These conditions were part of the bargain. As honourable citizens, it is the duty of the council to respect the promises made in those days. They are morally bound to respect that bargain. That plan which was published in the ‘Star’ yesterday would only make the infringement a hundred times worse. “A Death Trap.” “The lay-out of the tramways in the Square is nothing less than a deathtrap. They are bringing hundreds of people there who have to scramble through traffic to get to anywhere. As was advocated some time ago passengers should be picked up and set down in Colombo Street. If Hereford Street were made a stopping place it would distribute the people into six lots and minimise congestion to a great extent. *' As was shown by the facts which I revealed in the ‘Star’ of August 10. 1927, any building erected in the Square, except for ornamental purposes, is illegal. Fire Brigade Site. “ I should like to correct a misunderstanding regarding the site of the old Fire Brigade Station at Chester Street. No buildings can legally be erected there, nor can it be used for. any i other purpose than as a fire brigade station. That land behind the Oxford Hotel was a public reserve on which nothing could be built until the City Council in the early days went looking f<?!r a new site for the Fire Brigade. A special Act of Parliament was passed enabling them to utilise this reserve solely for the purpose of a station site. “ Supporters of the Plunket Society have complained that the site has lain idle for years, but that, as soon as the Plunket Society ask for it, an outcry is raised. That is quite true. It wouid be illegal to use the ground for the purposes of tho Plunket Society. Now that it is no longer in use for the Fire Brigade the buildings should be pulled down and the land restored to its original state as a reserve.

“In 1877 all the reserves in Christchurch were handed over to the council to be held in trust, although a great many people don’t know it. We take a pride in being a law-abiding community, and the sooner we start observing the law in regard to our reserves the better.”