QUESTION OF BUYING CIVIC SITE TO BE INVESTIGATED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18947, 18 December 1929, Page 10

QUESTION OF BUYING CIVIC SITE TO BE INVESTIGATED.

The proposal to acquire the block of land bounded by Colombo, Kilmore and Victoria Streets, and facing the Avon for a civic centre for the city was brought before the City Council last evening by Councillor H. T. J. Thacker.

The Council decided to investigate the proposal after all references to a site for an art gallery had been removed from the motion. In accordance with notice which he had given, Councillor Thacker moved “that the Mayor and councillors of the Christchurch City Council take immediate steps to acquire the freehold of that block of land bounded by Victoria, Kilmore, Colombo Streets, and Cambridge Terrace, as a future Town Hall site, and that a sufficiency thereof at the east end of the block be offered by the City Council on behalf of the city as a site for the ‘M’Dougall Art Gallery,’ subject to the successful architect’s approval when he arrives in this city in January next.” Councillor Thacker said that there was a block of land available on the north river bank of two acres in area. The question of acquiring that block of land was an urgent necessity. The Council building was getting far too overloaded. The proposal to purchase “The Limes” site was rejected by a small majority in 1920. The property could be purchased and paid for as the land was required. He asked that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee for immediate investigation.

In seconding the motion, Councillor A. E. Armstrong congratulated Councillor Thacker on the vision that he had shown. He could agree that the site proposed was one of the best for a town hall and an art gallery in New Zealand. If the Council had the foresight to purchase the site now, some of the buildings could be used for the benefit of the city. A municipal gymnasium could be built on the site. It could be large enough for a football team to train on, together with a boxing room. The proposition was too serious to be laughed at by councillors. Councillor D. G. Sullivan, M.P., said that if he could see how the proposal could be financed without putting any additional burden on the ratepayers, he would be pleased to support it. He did not know what the uost of the block would be.

Councillor J. A. Flesher: £75,000. Councillor Sullivan said that the Finance Committee could thoroughly

investigate the proposal and see what were the possibilities of securing revenue from the block. He was sure that Councillor Thacker would not press his motion on the ratepayers until a full investigation had been made from a financial point of view. Councillor A. W. Beaven said that Councillor Thacker had shown scant consideration of what had been done in the past. Councillor Thacker was attempting to side-track the question of a site for the art gallery. He would like to see a town hall erected on th*. site of the Provincial Council Cham bers.

Councillor J. W. Beanland said that Councillor Thacker was looking foi ward to getting the art gallery placed on that block of land. It was too late in the day to try to get the ques tion of the site altered. He described Councillor Thacker’s speech at Victorii.. Square, when he said: “In spite of psalm-singing Councillor Beanland—as showing a lack of manners, especially when Councillor Thacker was acting as Deputy-Mayor. The Mayor (the Rev J. K. Archer; said that many good people were psalm-singers. The Mayor added that the dispute regarding the site for the art gallery should be considered closed. He had not selected the site, but as it was the best site available, he had agreed to it. Councillor Thacker intimated that he would delete the reference to the art gallery site. Councillor Lyons moved an amendment that the council take steps to inquire into the question of purchasing the site for a civic centre and that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and a report. Councillor Thacker agreed to the amendment, which was adopted by the council without further discussion.