Art Gallery Site.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 8

Art Gallery Site.

To the Editor. Dear Sir,—Mr Armstrong, the architec for the McDougall Art Gallery, has saift that the site chosen “is quite a good one although “not his ideal as a site. The chosen site is so far from being an ideal site that I have never yet met anybody except Mr Armstrong who referred to it as even being “quite a good one." In my opinion and I believe in the opinion of ninety-nine per cent of the people of Christchurch, there is no more unsuitable site anywhere in New Zealand, at any rate not in the South Island. It is a back yard site and to place the Art Gallery thereon is an insult to the man who is giving us the Art Gallery as well as an insult to the people of Christchurch. A reasonably good spot could easily have been given in the same locality. The Art Gallery should face Rolleston Avenue just as the Museum does, but should stand back some twenty or thirty feet from the line of frontage of the Museum and the main doors should open without obstruction to Rolleston Avenue. The site I have indicated is between CM Museum and the caretaker’s cottage, • piece of land only a few yards from th« place chosen and having the advantage of direct entrance from the Avenue. I can’t understand why our city fathers can allow such a generous gift to be treated so scurvilv.—l am, etc, COMMON DECENCY .