TOWN BELT PLANNING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1871, 3 October 1913, Page 8

TOWN BELT PLANNING.

i- j THE TENNIS LEASE. THE DEPUTATION TO THE COUNCIL I MATTER STILL OPEN. Tho question of the comprehensive planning of the Town Belt, and the granting of leases to sports bodies, was further considered by the City Council last evening. Tho matter was first brought up by a large deputation of citizens, mostly representatives of sports bodies, which waited on the council. Tho deputation was introduced by Dr. A. It. Newman, M.P. Ho said that the members of the deputation were of tho opinion that the Town Belt should be organised in a systematic manner, and that it should not bo handed out piecemeal. They would not press for a competitive design, but' they favoured this scheme. They hoped that whatever scheme was adopted would bo comprehensive. Wanted—A General Scheme. Mr. J. H. Pollock, who was the first speaker, said that tho deputation came as citizens and not morely as representatives of sports bodies. Ho made it clear that thero was no hostility to' the Lawn Tennis Association, but they wished to urge that tho Town Belt should not be dealt with in pieces. They wanted a comprehensive scheme. They contended that the cutting out of ono portion at Pirio Street would mean the spoiling of tho whole ground in that locality. They wished to impress upon the council tho desirability of having the Town Belt dealt with in a thoroughly comprehensive manner. They did not care whether the scheme was cno drawn up by the council's own officers, or by outside competition, but they protested against any haphazard or piecemeal scheme. Such comprehensive schemes had been successful in In- ! vercargill and Auckland, and had resulted in public-spirited men coming forward with largo contributions towards tho provisions of parks. They could not expect suoh men to come forward in Wellington unless a comprehensive scheme were adopted, so that they would know how their money would be expended. Leases That Might Bo Dangerous. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt said that he represented no sports body, but was present as a citizen to support Councillor Atkinson's motion, of which notice had been given. Ho did not,' however, support any proposal to prohibit tho leasing of portions of tho Belt to sports bodies. What ho urged was that a complete scheme should bo adopted, so that no leases would be granted which would bo found later on to interfere with access to the Belt. They did not wish to see tho matter dealt with in a slipshod manner. They hoped that when a scheme had been prepared it would be submitted to a genoral meeting of citizens for consideration. He also advocated the setting up of a citizens' advisory committee to aid the council in its decision. The matter was ail important one, in which every oitizon was deeply interested. Thero had been rumouri about the town that tho deputation had ulterior motives. The Mayor:' You don't believe rumours ? Mr. Hunt: No ; but wo wish the council to know clearly that we are here as citizens who wish to see a comprehensive scheme of town-planning adoptod. He continued so long as the council permitted the building of cottages on 20ft. frontages, the deputation could not believe that they were really interested in town-planning. Tho Mayor explained that some unavoidable delay had occurred in dealing with the scheme, and the council really could not go on with it until the return of Mr. Murdoch (Assistant City Engineer) from England. Councillor Hislop asked tho deputation whether it was awaro that under tho terms of tho lease to tho Tennis Association tho council was empowered, if it so wished, to take back tho land after sovon years. Tho Tennis Leaso. Mr. A. A. Paape, a member of the deputation, said that they were well aware that the Reserves Committee had the matter in hand. They did not object to the granting of a lease to tho Tennis Association, but they thought that the particular leaso granted would spoil tho area in its particular locality. In this matter they were convinced that a mistake had been made. The Mayor pointed out that whereas grounds had been found for many sports, the tennis people had so far reoeived little consideration. The deputation then withdrew. Deputation Indignant. When the deputation first appeared the Mayor asked that speakers should number not more than two, and he asked also that tlioy should be very brief, as the council had a great amount of business to deal with. Later, tho Mayor asked members of tho deputation to give direot answers—yes or no—to the questions put to them, and he alsostopped a speaker who was not confining his remarks to tho issues beforo tho council. These deputations, lie said, wero taking up a lot of tho council's timo, and it might be necessary to call special meetings to hear them, and leavo the ordinary meetings for the usual business of tho council. After tho deputation had withdrawn, a mooting was held in_ tho corridor, and as a result a document was handed to the press. This stated that the deputation's reception, was such that a meeting was hold after tho deputation had placed their viows before tho City Council, and tho following resolutions were adopted, those present being:—Messrs. L. Watkins, C. G. Wilson, A. Marryatt, G. S. Hill, H. Saunders. J. F. Atkins, A. A. Paape, P. W. Woodroffo, J. 'H. Pollock, H. Levy, C. D. Morpeth, A. Forrest, K. Pavitt, W. J. Pollock, A. Leigh-Hunt, A. M'Kenzie, W T . Brown, James Hislop, W. Larkin, R. Fullorton, and A. Bulford :— The members of the deputation that waited on the City Council to advocate tho adoption of a general Eohcme for tne development and beautification of the Town Belt keenly express their regret at the reception accorded them. Being, tliero from a sense of duty, as citizens, thoy consider tho treatment meted out by the Mayor to one of their speakers, and , the interjections by tho councillors while the representatives of. tho deputation woro speaking, also tho questions asked by councillors, .indicated that the fooling of tho councillors was hostilo to tho objects of tho deputation. That' those present form themselves into a committee for tho purposo of enthusing tho citizens of Wellington in tho direction of forming a society to safeguard their interests in regard to the preservation and improvement of tho city reserves. Mr. C. G. Wilson was eleoted chairman and convener, and Mr. I'. W. Woodroffo was elected secretary. Resolution Not Reaohed. Councillor Atkinson's motion, of which he had given notice, was:— .'.'That tho resolution passed by tho council on Soptember 4—'That a leaso of a portion of the Pirio Street Reserve be granted to the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association fov tho purposo ot constructing lawn tennis courts thereon, jis. ttccardauo? with Jho draft loaoo_;ub-J

mittod herewith I —be rosoindod; and that no further lease of any part' of the Town Belt bo granted under the Wellington (City) Town Belt Reserves Act. 1908, until a report has been obtained from tho city engineer or some other competent authority as to what parts of tlio Belt are suitable for recreation grounds and other publio purposes, and what are suitable ror leasing to 6ports bodios and other private purposes, ofltt can bo so leased without prejudice to the publio objects aforesaid. Tho motion had not been readied when tho council adjourned at 11 p.m. It will bo considered at <v special meeting of the council, to bo held at 7.30 p.m, on the regular meeting night, a fortnight hence. • Other Belt Matters. Other matters in connection with the Town Belt wc-re dealt with as follows; — Tho recommendation of the city engineer that tho following planting solieme be approved for next season, was adopted, viz.:—(1) Continuation of the planting on tho western slope of Mount .Victoria; (2) planting of clumps in suitable places on the Tinakori Hills ; (3) extension of tree-planting in connection with Central Park, on tho southern side of the tramline. The owners of land adjoining tho Town Belt on tho Tinakori Hills aro to be served with a notice to contribute half 'the cost of the proposed fencing. Tlio request of Mr. Carroll for a variation in the terms of the council's offer to lease to him Section 32, Town Belt, was not acceded,to. Tho council declined to consent to an assignment of a lease of a portion of the Town Belt from the Kilbirnie School Committee to tlio Defenco Department. This portion of tho Town Belt hud been leased •to tho school committee at a nominal rental for the purpose of forming a rifle range.