LOAN PROPOSALS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2216, 31 July 1914, Page 8

LOAN PROPOSALS

NEEDS OF THE CITY COUNCIL COMPILES THE SCHEDULE THE TUNNEL BATTLE A GARDEN SCHEME FOR ORIENTAL BAY.

The Wellington loan proposals were considered at a three and a half hours' special sitting of the City Council last night, and it. is now probable that, as a result, the ratepayers will be asked to vote on' items totalling about £365,585. Of tho recommendations made by the Finance Committee items totalling £262,350 were adopted; it was resolved, also, to subriiit a Hataitai tunnel proposal to • tho poll, but the estimated cost of this scheme is not definitely fixed on. Taking the present estimate of £70,000, and adding 10 per cont, to all tho items (a statutory requirement) ,the £365,585 mentioned is. arrived at. The discussion on the tunnel proposal was protracted, arid interruptions, interjections, and almost constant conversation featured the meeting. The proposal to spend £10,000 in extending the sea-wall at Oriental Bay' was dropped in favour of an idea to reclaim some laud there, and construct a. park with attractive gardens. Thero' were present at the meeting the Mayor UVlr. J. I'. Luke), Councillors W. H P Barber, H. Buddie, J. E. Fitzgerald, R/ Fletcher, G. Frost, J. Godber, A. H Hindniarsh, T.'C. A. Hislop, M. F. Luckie, L. M'Kenzie, and R. A Wright. ■.'■'■

The Programme Reviewed. The Mayor opened /the proceedings with some preliminary observations on tiie need for pressing forward with the loan schedule. He said that.-.so'mo of the works were urgent, some necessary, and some desirable. ' The Finance Commj t e ! lad on the schedule, and he hoped that the report would be adopted. He believed that the 'council would submit the questions to the ratepayers in a manner which would make it easy for the people .to deal with them. Ho thought that the; ratepayers would, look on the whole question : Irom the general standpoint of the city. .He then jnoved that.the Finarice Ujmmittee s report should be adopted. ■ Councillor Frost, seconded the motion pro forma. : Ho thought that it was time the proposals which had been so long bandied about should be put before tho ratepayers in, concrete form. Ho thought that the proposals should go to tho citizens, a Sj they had come from the Committee, with, perhaps, tho audition of some items which had beon struck out.. ' • |

The Tunnel Introduced; Fletcher .regretted that the Hataatai tunnel proposal'had been struck out of the: schedule.- There was/ Iw said, no question .that'.'a way to. the otner side of tlio liillHvas badly needed. Ho moved that the .£70,000 for this tunnel undertaking should be added. . Councillor Luckie: What is the route? Q^lGr: engineer has' reported as to the route. Continuing, Councillor Fletcher ' said that, his : propoea merely meant that the public •?W u ' d be given, an opportunity of voting on the question, of the need'for the tunnel, and, as the work was so imperative,. this was not asking a great deal of tlio council. • ; .This was taken as an amendment to 1 the motion, and seconded (pro forma)' by Councillor Hislop, who said that the cmuicil had fallen in- tho ■ estimation of the citizens through its delay "in fate mth the estimates. He added, that the council. could not go on "with a tiumel schomo until'- it had more information from the ■ engineer as to COSt.; ,■•■-• . , The need for better access to the suburbs on the'eastern side of Mount .Victoria was stressed by Councillor Barbsij who spoke at lengtlr of th© groTrtli Ot. population in tliat quarter. He' hoped Councillor Fletcher's amendment would be.carried. •••' ■ . Councillor Luckie . raised the point tliat Lounculor. Fletcher's amendment • wa ? otft of -order. Some little time ago, the council had had the tunnel question deferred until a report was made by the City Engineer. ■' . Councillor Freteher: No;; it is quite in , order; We are here to, consider the proposals, and' must deal with suggestions to add or take away from .The Mayor Upheld Councillor Fletchers view, and Councillor Barber made Ho°wever attempt 40 contirwo llis speccli. Councillor Buddie: Point of order sir. This amendment is equal to a motion for recission of what tho council resolved on a little while back, and it cannot be dealt with uiless .seven days notice of it is given Tho Mayor: I «m not going to be in the least concerned about some of theso pomts of order. ■

.Councillor. Hislop: What'about the standing orders, then? The .Mayor: The position is that if there is not some elasticity in thesematters the .thing will never be crot through. ■•.•'■ . ■". . Councillor Hislop: Haven't we standing orders to abide by? . The Mayor: Don't interrupt me please. ■ 1 ' v ' Councillor Fletcher said that he was willing to withdraw his amendment, and bring it up at the next meeting of the council, after giving notice of motion. Hair of Interruptions. Councillor Luckio: I.suggest.that we go into committee to deal with the proposals seriatim. • Councillor M'Kenzie: No. Councillor Luckie: Oh, I .know that a great number of people want to talk to the Press. ' Councillor Fletcher: You ought to withdraw that. : Councillor Luckie: I refuse. The Mayor: You move that we go into committee? , Councillor Luckie: I am willing to move that:, . • ' ,' . Councillor Barber: I protest, sir. I have the floor, and he can't move until I finish my speech. . The 'Mayor: Wo have had quito enough of this. I am going to conduct the business of this council. • Councillor Fletcher: Hear. hear. Another councillor: Quito right. The Mayor: We have been here a long time, and have done nothing. Wo have had a lot of points of order, and so 011. I am going to interpret tho procedure to the best of,my ability, but if I don't keep to the strict legal interpretation, that is my misfortune, and I hope you will bear with nie. That is all I have to say on that aspect. Councillor Barber may finish his speech. When Councillor Barber had concluded, Councillor M'Kenzie declared that to go 011 with the present scheme was to court disaster. Councillor Luckio: Of course. Councillor M'Kenzie: Every council-, lor knows that if the present scheme is gono 011 with it is doomed. Councillors: Hear, hear,. Councillor M'Kenzie said that in 1906 tho City Engineer had estimated tliat the cost of widening tho tunnel so that a double tramline could bo put through would be from £3500 to £4000, including the cost'of the'permanent way. Councillor Fitzgerald said that tho big mistake was made when the tunnel, was -first made* Tho question now, ■

, however, was where'the tunnel was t< K°\ Councillor Fletcher: Through tho hill Councillor Fitzgerald: Through it where P Why should tho council shirl its duty to tho peoplo? Is it not oui duty to dircct tiiom as to the way i( should go. To ask tho citizcns to vote £70,000 for a scheme which might cosi £170,000 before it is finished is idle. ' Councillor Buddie said that motior to go into committee should have conic from the chair. Tho Mayor: The chair is of opinion, ] may tell you, Councillor Buddie, that this should,be dealt with in the open. It is open to any councillor to move t< go into committee. • Subsequently, Councillor Buddie re peated that "alj this trouble could hav< been avoided" if a motion to go intc committee had come from tho chair. The Mayor: I am not going to alien any reflection on the chair. You musl J understand that, Councillor Buddie. t "Catering for Votes." Councillor Fitzgerald: Here wo art •, going to add £70,000 to the list. Where 1 are we going to spend it? ; Councillor Fletcher: In the tunnel, s Councillor Fitzgerald: Yes, but where , is the tunnel to go? Councillor Fletcher: Through the hill , _ Councillor Fitzgerald: What is it go--1 'ing to cost? 1 Councillor Fletcher: £70,000. (Laugh'rter.) 1 Councillor Flotcher's amendment was then put and carried by eight votes tc ■ four. This simply meant (it was held) - that the tunnel proposal went back into the schedule, but that further reports 1 were still to be obtained from tho engineer. The next step was a motion by Coun- , cillor Godber to gointo committee. The seconder was Councillor Hislop, who'remarked that in open counoil some couhp cillors would vote merely for the 'pur--1 pose of catering for votes. ' Councillor Fletcher: Withdraw that, . The Mayor: You must withdraw. V>You have no right to impute motives tc your fellow councillors. Councillor Barber: Judging othersbj himself. Councillor Hislop: , Of course, I will withdraw it, but councillors will nol discuss these matters as freely, and fully, and openly, as they would in committee. , ■ . \ Councillor Fitzgerald: Ihope the remarks of the council this evening will not be published' through the daily . papers. . This motion was defeated on the casting vote of the Mayor. .•Other'items, were- then passed on to. mien the tramways vote (£97,000) was callod on, Councillor Buddie said that tho £10,000 which was to have been spent on the Hill Street line should be included to make a temporary tramway link from the viaduct at Northland to tho top of tho Kelbumo tunnel. He considered that the. trams would ultimately take that route. The Mayor said that the £10,00 c mentioned had been retained on the schedule; , Councillor Fletcher said that the sooner the council considered the question of taking over the Kelburn trams the better. Ho was averse to feeding a private company. . The tramway, proposal'-was not altered, and was passed as on,tho schedule. . .Considerable' discussion arose when " orieu ,t aJ , Bay sea-wall, tlO.OOO," was calied on. Councilldi Jjuciaio said that tho bay was now and would be a refuse pit, and never could be converted into a sandy beach, while, on .tho other, hand, it could be reclaimed, and made...into a 'park with beautiful gardens. v.. .. - By sis votes to. five the following Councillor Buddie was cai> ned: That the City Council should immediately o»ter into negotiations witl the Harbour.-.Bpa^for;Uts; , ,S6Mt«« reclaim part of; Oriental 'Bay," and' wlieii Buch. .consent is obtained, if 'the.'terms ; thereof and' the' estimated cost are.satisractory to the council, the necessary legislation should Jbo, iritroduoed, and when passed, .that , the .City Council'e resolution of a'previous date (in 1910) should be then rescinded, and the reclamation be proceeded with, and-com-pleted as soon as possible, and vested in the City for the purposes of a pari and a playing ground," , T)l ® council then deleted tho £10,00( L.- sea-wall ffom the schedule. ' ■ The_ other items submitted by the .committee,', were approved, and Councillor Barber then moved to hnvp £19,000, -for the Kilbirnie reserve reinstated in tho schedule. This nroposal was defeated.

Tha New Schedule. adopteJf°^° Sa ' S a 9 a w^o ' 6 tlien . On ihe motion of Councillor Buddie it was . aocided that every item -should bo put before the ratepayers separately. Tim ,Mayor said that 10 per cent. would have to be added to every item ihis was required by law for incidental expenses, and payment of . tho first year's interest. . 1 . £ Tunnel scheme (present estim. mate > 70,000 lTamways ■ - 07 nnn Milk supply _ (depot) 15'fiOO Outlying roads and streets, 10 000 P.M brigadei... • ; 18,000 Wood-blocking streets 62,000 Office accommodation 7500 Island Bay improvements ' 2*Boo Library extensioii J. 3500 New. road to Brooklyn .i....'.'/. 31500 Vogoltown Road ]i mn Roseneath Road ....... " iqVnn Oentrhl Park lo'nnn Lyall Bay bath house 3*ooo Bath house, Island Bay I'nnn Kilbirnie baths .................. " Vsn Brooklyn baths , 800 m m J 332,350 Pms 10 per cent 33,235 Total •••• :... 365,585