TOWN HALL SITE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16855, 8 June 1920, Page 6

TOWN HALL SITE.

e CAMBRIDGE TERRACE BLOCK. A lai*go and representative deputation, organised by the Canterbury Progress League, waited on the City Council last night in support of the proposal to acquire the city block on Cambridge terracc fronting Victoria square as a Town Hall site. I Mr H. Holland, president of tho . League, said the deputation reprc- , sented some of tho largest- ratepayers in the city, and that showed their sincerity, seeing that the ratepayers would have to stand the cost. All the League desired was to assist the Council in its endeavour to acquire the site for a Town Hall, but had no thought of interfering with the Council's affairs, or 1 of taking part in tho discussion by tho ■ Council on the matter. Mr A. F. Wright, a member of the 1 executive of tho Progress league, said, as a result of a canvass made by iho League, there was discovered a remarkable unanimity in favour of the site. AH tho leading architects of the city wero enthusiastic in their support of tiie site. He thought the ratepayers of tho city were prepared to be rated to provide the site, and the Progress League would do all it could to assist. It might be that a Town Hall would involve a certain charge on the rates, but there were 1 priceless benefits arising from the pos- ! session of a Town Hall by any city. - Mr J. G. Herdman, president of the 1 Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, said that- his organisation strongly favoured ' the proposed site, and also tho ercction of a suitable Town Hall. [ In reply to Cr. Langley, Mr "Wright J said he did not think tho Council would ' > bo in a position to start building for two or three years. Some of tho properties in tho block might be acquired ' by purchase and others acquired under tho Public Works Act. ! _ Cr. Agar enquired what tho deputation thought of the suggestion to build on tho Triangle fronting the proposed site which would cost nothing. ! Mr Wright said the city was quite ! wealthy enough to stand the cost of the site and tho Town Hall. Cr. Armstrong said that as the ratepayers would have the decision on the matter, it really did not concern the Council. Cr. Sullivan asked if the ratepayers would bo willing to pay the rate for the erection and upkeep of the Town Hall. Mr Holland replied that they would be. After the deputation withdrew, it was decided to defer consideration of the matter until a later stage of tho meeting. Later in tho evening Cr. J. A. Flesher proposed a motion of which lie had given notice. He mentioned that six years ago the Council had settled on a Town Hall site, and that decision had never been reversed. A Voice: Where was it? Cr. Flesher: In Victoria square, where tho Band Rotunda is. That site was fixed by the Council six years ago. and has never been rescinded. Cr. Flesher then proposed:—"Thattho resolution passed by the Council on March loth, to take a poll of the ratepayers regarding tho acquisition of the block of land bounded bv Cambridge terrace, Victora, Kilmoro, and Columbo streets, for municipal purposes, including a Town Hall, bo rescinded." Cr. Flesher said tho sito would involve the city in a capital value to begin with of £55,000. and that would represent only the cost of the site, for the'buildings would havo .to be removed. Tho rents at present would return 4 per cent., whereas the interest and sinking fund would amount to 6£ per cent. The present rates, amounting to £227. would bo lost, and the total annual Joss would ho at least £1600 a year. Jt would bo ten years beforo the city was readv to build, and with the annua] loss and interest the site would stand tho Council in at not less than £70,0C0. ' Tha Council could not honestly recommend tiie ratepayers to go on with a scheme involving such a cost. _ Cr. MoKellar, who seconded the motion, said lie did not consider the area, proposed wf« the most suitable for a Town Hall site. Cr. Armstrong said if the ratepayers were willing to ifcnuire the site, and to pay for it. then they should bo given ail opportunity of saying so. He took it that if the ratepayers agreed to buy the site they would agree also to pav for the cost of the Town Hall, which could be started without delay. Tf the rntcpavers rejected the site, thpn the Council could fall back on the old sito. The motion was put and lost on tho voices.