“DOWN WITH IRON RAILINGS”

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 8

“DOWN WITH IRON RAILINGS”

OPENING UP STREET RESERVES

The Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) has a modern outlook on city reserves and their availability to the public. In conversation with a Dominion reporter yesterday he referred to the time when the reserve at the eastern end of Courtenay Place was a cluster of gloomy close-set trees, surrounded by a close picket fence sft. in height. “In view of modern enlightenment in city improvement, such a place in the centre of an important thoroughfare can only be regarded with horror,” he said. “We have found that there was nothing at all in the primitive and very ugly way we had of protecting greet trees, which were well able to look after themselves. I am in favour of opening up all such reserves, so allowing the beauty of green lawns and foliage to be appreciated by all. There is a cluster of trees right in front of the entrance to the Central Fire Station in Jervois Quay that should be opened up and the dangerous-looking spiked iron fence round the reserve tn Courtenay Place, at the Taranaki Street intersection, could well be removed.” “Such fences and railings do not exist at all in progressive cities. They are a sign of backwardness and , a fashion that dates back to Victorian davs. Whilst in Auckland I took particular notice of their reserves,_ and found no instance of fences or railings round them. At one time there was a concrete wall and tall iron-bar fence to ‘protect’ Albert Park along Princes Street. It has all been cleared away, and nothing remains in its place but a low kerb of stones, and yet the park is as beautiful and well-groomed as ever.”