AIR SPACE-NO CHANGE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1143, 2 June 1911, Page 8

AIR SPACE-NO CHANGE

PROTEST SUCCEEDS. THE NEW BY-LAW THROWN OUT. Last night a deputation representing suburban municipal electors' associations •waited upon the City Council to protest nqniiut tho enactment of tho proposed air-space by-law. Spokesmen for tho deputation were Messrs. A. Leigh Hunt (llataitai) and A. Wylic (Wadostowio. Replying to the Mayor, Mr. Hunl stated that the deputation represented the Wadcslewn, Kelburne, Brooklyn, Ro?eueiith, and Hataitai Associations, and, he thought, several others. Mr. Hunt laid before tho council a resolution parsed al a conference of suburban electors , associations, recommending that the present minimum of 2000 feet of air-space in respect of dwellings in suburban areas should bo maintained, and that a 10-foot frontage should be adopted as a general standard, the council to reserve the right to vary this in special circumstances. Sneaking in connection with this resolution Mr. Hunt stated that the matter had caused concern to the residents affected. They had gone into the tar corners of the city in order to obtain particular advantages-plenty of air-space and the healthiest conditions and it was indeed hard to find that the) were to be taken away. "We should very much like to learn from the committee," continued Mr. Hunt "who is likely to benefit from this bv-hw So far as we can learn, the only persons arc a. few 'jcrry-buildc-rs. It had been said, added Mr. Hunt, that the by-law would benefit the working man by enabling him to get a cheap house. The working man, the speaker believed, had 100 much sense to live on sections small as were proposed, and a resolution pa--ed by (he Trades and Labour Council indicated that that body did not think the new by-law likely to be beneficial. Tho suburban associations were quite prepared, if necessary, to bring down evidence in support of their contentions. They relied on the civic patriotism of councillors inducing them to throw out this by-law. It was civic patriotism in matters of this kind that made or marred a city. Air. Hunt added that the suburban residents were indebted to Councillor M'Laren. for bringing this matter lip. Apparently there had been some possibility of its slipping through unnoticed. The Mayor: No, no. Concluding, Mr. Hunt said that the deputation supported the proposal (o make the 40ft. frontage a general standard. Mr. Wyli-2 spoke briefly on similar lines to those 'followed by .Mr. Hunt. Councillor M'Kenzie asked Mr. AVylio how lie proposed to deal with the shop area. Mr. AVylio replied that ho took it that this by-law would not apply to subdivisions already made. In (fetalis they must trust to tho experience of the council. Councillor Trevor asked Mr. Hunt whether he considered an area of land 100 ft. by 20ft. sufficient for a shop. If thero were more space it would bo nearly all barren area. Jfr. Hunt replied that they were concerned rather with dwellings than with shops. As to dwellings, if a frontage of only 20 feet wero allowed, even though Ihe sections were 500 feet deep, there would still be slums. The .Mayor having assured the deputation that its representations would receive consideration, its members withdrew. Later in the evening tho By-Laws Committee recommended the council to adopt the hew. by-law relating to open spaces in outlying district?. . Councillors M'Laren .. and Fletcher strongly opposed the rccommeiidnti6n, tho latter expressing tho opinion that the suggestion of a change must have como from the jerry builders. The Mayor said that he was opposed to the change. Ho asked councillors So vote without further discussion, as the hour was late. "Absurd and wicked, if not criminal," was Councillor Cameron's characterisation of the proposed by.-iaw. Councillors Barber, Shirtcliffe, Fuller, and Godber opposed the new byjaw, the t'.ro last-named stating that they voted against it on . the committee. Councillor Trevor, ■ chairman of the committee, stated in reply that the deputation which asked for the change contested of Kilbirnic residents, not one of whom was a builder: Messrs. Taylor, Clark, and another, whoso name ho" had forgotten. The old committee was unanimously in favour of the change. He wmit into figures to show that tho old bylaw, by making it necessary to acquire so much land in order to build, imposed a heavy burden on persons who wished to make homes in tlie suburbs. . Tlie clause was struck out on a' division by 10 votes to 3. Councillors voted as follow:—For the new by-law: Councillors "irKenzie, Smith, and Trevor. Against: Tho Mayor and Councillorj .Atkinson, Barber, , Cameron, Fitzgerald, Fletcher, Fuller, Godber, M'Laren, and Shirtcliffe.