WOODWARD STREET TRANSACTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 323, 9 October 1908, Page 9

WOODWARD STREET TRANSACTION.

DISCUSSED BY CITY COUNCIL. Tho matter of the Woodward Street transaction was brought up .at tlio meeting of the City Council last night. Councillor Luko raised the subject rather unexpectedly, after Councillor Fisher had left the meeting, 110 said that it was due to the council, and also to tho citizens of' Wellington, that tho Mayor should make a statement regarding tho Woodward Streot transaction. THE MAYOR'S REMARKS. 1 Tho Mayor said he thought it was rather late to make any statement, but he was in the hands of the council. He had thought that after the report of tho committee, and after certain statements that had boon mado in the 'House,- it might be convenient to devote an hour or two in the small hall for the purpose of elucidating the question. He thought that the peoplo generally were pretty sick of it. So far as tho council was concerned, tho original estimate for the work was £870. In addition, the council had dono work, estimated to bo worth £100, in kerbing and channelling the whole 'of Woodward Street, which work was not included in tho original estimate. After deducting tho contribution received towards making the wall, the council had been able to do the work, including the roading and channelling in question, for £840, which he thought was extremely chcap. One Policy Right Through. A good deal had been' said regarding a certain phase of the question. Councillors knew perfectly well, especially members or tho Finauce Committee, that the one policy was adhered to right throughout, that the council should attempt to get the necessary piece of ground—a very small area—for nothing. That was adhered to, and the council, got tho ground for nothing. Regarding the purchase from the Crown, tliey were perfectly satisfied, and the representatives of the people had said that .the £652 was an ample price for the. land; There had been no attempt before tl)e. committee :to ■ prove that tho land was worth moro ; than that, or that more could have; been got for it. Regarding the statements made affecting his memory,, ho could assure tho council that when tho time came he would be ablo to demonstrate —not merely to suggest—that his recollection of the matter was correct, That day ; he had put the matter before a member of the House, who had been previously inclined to_ take tho other view, and lie (the speaker) thought that when this member saw what ho had in his possession ho was absolutely satisfied regarding his (tho Mayor's) view of tho case. The Committee's Caro. ■ Councillor Luke know, because he was on tho Finance Committee, that a great deal of care and trouble had been taken over this matter to see that it did not cost the council' more than was absolutely necessary.. It was remarkablo that attacks wqro generally made regarding works when tHo' councillors and those representing the public were taking the greatest care for the interests of , the public. If the council had taken no care, but had simply gono to the Compensation Court, it wouid havo probably cost the council £300 or £400 more, and there would havo been no-talk. When the matter did come before tile -council lib would seo that the members of-'thei council received a copy of tho statement which hp had prepared regarding it, and' ho was perfectly convinced that they, would be satisfied that overything, as f?r as the council was concerned, was absolutely straight and above board. ' . THE COUNCIL'S POSITION. Councillor Luke said that the matter had been debated at a full meeting of tho committee. He .strongly objected that the case should,bp tlfscggoa beforo the public, and only one side of the question given. It was fduc to . Hie cdtizens of. Wellington that the case should' do settled as far as tho City Council was concerned. Ho did not - care for any political sentiment, and he would not allow his name to be brought •beforo the House without his having a dhanco to explain his position. He was satisfied that everything had been honest and square, and that tliey had made a very good'bargain, and lie considered it the duty of tho Mayor to explain this as clearly as possible.. • Councillor Carmichael said he did not like it to go out as thought the council had been cognisant. He had been in tho council, and had never heard the matter brought forward. . The Mayor: Oh, nonsense. Councillor Carmicliael must have been very blind. Councillor Carmichael: Thank you. Tho Mayor: Because the matter was brought forward five times. The agreement was brought upMn the council and approved 'in--"tho.'council.-' There is no good denying that. " Councillor Carmichael: I say I do not rocollcct it, sir. Lapse of Memory. The Mayor: You do not recollect a thousand things. Continuing, the said that there was one more remarkable thing regarding the evidence which ho would bring forward at tho proper time. He would show that tho lapse or deficiency of memory did not rest with him. ' He would be ablo to prove that the statement of Mr. Kensington made in Juno, 1908, did not accord with tho statement ho made previously. Councillor Murdoch said he had boon thoroughly satisfied with tho whole transaction from the start. He was satisfied that the bargain mlide by the Finance Committee was a good bargain for the city.' He could not understand what the. bother had been about. The Mayor remarked that to people who carried a little mud about in their eyes everything became permeated with that mud. The matter was then allowed to drop.