"DEFENCING "THE CITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1574, 18 October 1912, Page 5

"DEFENCING "THE CITY.

"BEGIN WITH PARLIAMENT HOUSE." A movement for the removal of tho fences that enolose the public, buildings in Wellington, as a beginning towards the ideal of a fenceless, city, was initiated by Councillor G. Shirtclitfo at the City Council last evening. He had noticed, he ■ Baid,'that a low wall was being constructed round the precincts of Parliament House, and the intention was, ho understood, to surmount this by an iron fence. The general appearance of tho 6ito had been vastly improved by tho removal of the old galvanised-iron fence which formerly surrounded it, and he thought it would be a pity if another fende were erected. : He would prefer to see the grounds fully exposed to tho public view, with a simple kerb 15 or 18 inches high, to mark the boundary. Ho moved that it be a recommendation to the Reserves Committee to take some action' in tho direction of suggesting something of the kind to the Government. Councillors generally supported tho idea. Councillor R. Fletcher said that in many of tho great cities in America the public parks and buildings, to say nothing' of private gardens, were unfenced, and yet protected by a healthy public opinion from vandalism. "We should do the same with our reserves," ho said, ."and educate the public to respect their !t>wn property." * Councillor Geo. Frost (chairman of tho Reserves Committee) said that he felt sure the committee would be sympathetic towards, the idea, which was an excellent one. . . ,• Councillor F. Cohen said that in Aus- ■ tralia all the boundary fences had been taken down from tho public "parks and gardens. Councillor Jas. Trevor was afraid that ! the .Government, might turn round and. invite the council' to set an example by .taking down some of its own fences instead of starting on Parliament House. The practice was not general in America, as some Councillors seemed to think. ' A street in a n American city—he spoke from observation—frequently presented a haif-an-half appearance. "One man fences, and tho next man doesn't," he iaid. r-.r— . —, Tho motion was carried.