CIVIC SQUARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 3

CIVIC SQUARE

BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY PROPOSAL COSY THEATRE BLOCK NOT CONSIDERED SUITABLE BY BOROUGH COUNCIL. A proposal by the Masterton Beautifying Society that the Cosy Theatre block in Queen Street might be utilised as a civic space was discussed in committee at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. The council decided that the site was not suitable for an open space and thanked the society for its interest in the matter. Stating that the society had held a series of meetings to arrive at an alternative scheme to the one proposed by the Mayor, a letter from the Beautifying Society which came before the council last night said an agreement had been reached. The society realised that other amenities were more urgently needed in the borough and would hesitate to advance a suggestion of this nature in normal times but owing to earthquake damage, such a favourable opportunity to open up a civic space might never occur again. A civic space would given an air of spaciousness and dignity to Masterton and would offer restful and utilitarian advantages, such as public seating, a car parking area, a central bus terminus, etc. On the financial side it would open up a practical business area, which private and governmental enterprise would quickly develop. Under the circumstances it was the duty of citizens to shoulder any additional financial burden for the benefit of future generations. Members of the society, the letter stated, were in agreement that a civic space was most desirable. Numerous areas were suggested, which were narrowed down to three: (a) The block from Perry Street to Cole Street up to the premises of Messrs Donald & Sons, Ltd., on which was the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile building; (b) the block on which the Occidental Hotel stood, to the Park and up to the State Theatre; (c) the area bounded by Queen, Bannister, Dixon and William streets, on which the Cosy Theatre stood. The society recommended to the council that the Cosy Theatre block should be acquired by the borough and converted into a civic space and submitted the suggestion for the council’s consideration. The advantages of this scheme were: The buildings were either condemned or of secondary value; it was in the centre of the business area; it had a narrow frontage to Queen Street and consequently would not penalise commercial interests on either side in the main street; it was an ideal size; it would hold a large concourse of people on State and civic occasions. There were numerous other advantages and the society would be willing to raise funds and help in any direction to develop the scheme.