‘PORT OF CHRISTCHURCH’

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 980, 24 May 1930, Page 6

‘PORT OF CHRISTCHURCH’

WHAT CITY MIGHT BECOME METROPOLIS OF SOUTH Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. A colourful description of Christchurch as it might become if it did not bestir itself, and an urging of more foresight and planning, were given by Mr. E. Philpot-Crowther at a public meeting last night in support of a harbour in Sumner estuary. “If you do not bestir yourselves you will be citizens of a town something like tho«e quiet provincial cathedral cities of England, where dogs go to sleep in the streets,” declared the speaker amid laughter. “You will have any amount of pleasant walks along the river banks and plenty of religious services at the street corners on Sundays, but you will have no trade or commerce. “Give me £5,000,000 and power,” continued Mr. Philpot-Crowther, “and I will give you a harbour that will be better than that of Wellington. I would first harness the Waimakariri back in the hills, and stop all that silt from coming down from the river. I would supply you with the cheapest electrical power in the world, and with the water from the turbines I would wash the estuary out xo sea as it was washed years ago. “Christchurch is the Cinderella of our cities,” he added, “and only because yo*u are not prepared to fight for the progress of your town. If you bestirred yourselves you could make your city the metropolis of the South Island. Give me power and support, and I will put Christchurch ahead of Auckland and Wellington for all time.”