Hagley Park Grass.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 12

Hagley Park Grass.

“Irresponsible Criticism ”

Attacked.

INDIGNANT PROTEST against what he described as “ irresponsible criticism was made by Mr M. E. Lyons in a rebuke to Mr R. B. Owen at a meeting of the Domains Board yesterday afternoon. Mr Owen raised the question of the clearing up of North Hagley Park and “ little ” North Park, and asked that the Parks and Gardens Committee should bring down a report on the subject. The park with its uncut grass was a disgrace, he said, and the board was neglecting its duty to those who passed on this heritage to the city in not looking after it properly. “ Progress and £ s. d. go hand in hand,” said Mr Lyons. “Mr Owen is lucky in having only one constituent to think of in making his criticism, and one that does not give a tuppenny dump what we do with the public’s money. Some of us who were elected representatives have to give accounts of what we do to various bodies. We have an income of only £3500 a year; and what can we do with £3500?” ‘‘lt is nearer £6OOO. You don’t know your job,” said Mr Owen. “ I know my job too well,” said Mr Lyons. “ Our income is only £3500. And I know, too, how irksome it is to have* irresponsible criticism levelled when we are trying to do our best with a limited income. We all sympathise with Mr Owen’s ideas of progress, but he wants to remember that progress and £ s. d. go hand in hand.” It was decided to ask the committee for a report on improvement that could be made consistent with the financial position of the board. Mr Owen is one of the Government representatives on the board.