WAY OPEN FOR UTZON’S RETURN

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 15

WAY OPEN FOR UTZON’S RETURN

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, March 11.

The Sydney opera house architect, Mr Joern Utzon, has until Tuesday to decide whether he will return to the project.

Mr Utzon, at a special meeting with the New South Wales Minister for Public Works, Mr Davis Hughes, last night had said he would like a fortnight to consider the Government’s conditions for the future management and control of the opera house. Mr Hughes said today that he was anxious to have Mr Utzon’s reply before Cabinet met early on Tuesday and had said this in a letter posted to Mr Utzon today.

The purpose of the conference with Mr Utzon was to elaborate the Government’s proposals for the future man-

agement and control of the opera house. Mr Hughes said the proposals submitted to Mr Utzon previously had not been changed but they had been discussed with the object of a better understanding. If Mr Utzon accepted the proposals the way would be clear for further discussion to be attended by the Institute of Architects.

“The proposals included Mr Utzon returning to the project a s the design architect, with full responsibility for originating and supervising development and design as a member of the architectural panel,” Mr Hughes said.