A "PUBLIC UTILITY."

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2819, 10 July 1916, Page 6

A "PUBLIC UTILITY."

FIRE STATION ON CONSTABLE STREET SUMMIT THE ONLY SITE Tho Wellington, City Council has in mind the establishment of an efficient, fire station according to modern 6taudards of fire-fighting to serve the southern suburbs on both sides of tho ridge of hills. The most suitable site is on the top of the Constable Street rise, and there the council wishes to take lor this purpose about half an acre «!' the Town Belt. Before this land can be taken, however, the council must,get the consent of the Minister of Public AVorks, and on Saturday morning a deputation from the council interviewed the Minister (the Hon. AY 7 . -Praser) on the subject. The members of the deputation wero:—The Mayor (.Mr. ,T. P. Luke), Councillor AV. H. P. Barber (chairman) and other members of the Fire Brigades Committee, Councillor G. Frost- (chairman of tho Reserves Committee), Mr. AV. H. Morton (city engineer),. Mr. J. O'Shca (city solicitor), and Superintendent Tato (of tho Fire Brigade). The Major said tlmt under ordinary circumstances the City Council would not ask for a pieco of the Town Belt, even for a firo station,, but a station on tho top of the hill was an urgent necessity, aud the area selected was tile only suitable piece of land available. Councillor Barber said that to anyone who would take tho trouble to visit the locality tho need for an up-to-date station on top of tho hill would be apparent. Tho area wlich would be served would be ono of the. most congested in -the city, and tho capital value of tho property to be protected was .£4,000,5-5. AH experts were unanimous that tho site was an ideal one, and that there was no other site of equal value. The council did not •want to take the pieco of the Town Bolt to avoid buying other land. No other suitable sito was available. The land in question was absolutely useless for any ordinary recreation pu/rposes. He pointed out that tho Government had already taken 150 acres of the 'Town Belt for hospital and other public purposes. He asked that the Minister should inspect the site, and also obtain a report from Inspector Hugo. Councillor M. Luckio spoko of the urgency of the need for fire prevention appliances *in this now very populous neighbourhood.

Councillor AV. H. Bennett said that uilder tho head of "public, utility," the Government had taken 143 acres' of the Town Belt, and he. argued.that the term "public utility" was properly applicable to a fire station.

Councillor Frost said that the Reserves Committee had considered tho matter, and had come to the conclusion that the silo was useless for recreation purposes. Mr. YV. H. Morton said that tlio site was the only one that would command tho large area under consideration.

Tho Minister, replying, said that he did not know what the fcolings of the residents of this city were, but he had lived in other towns where any attempt to take a portion of a Town Belt would have almost created a riot. He remem. bered a case iu Dunedin, in which the authorities desired lo take a. portion of the Town Belt for tho purposes of an 'infectious diseases hospital. The people had taken the matter up, and had tho prejcct been carricd out (here would have been a riot.

A member of the deputation: That wa6 because it was for a contagious diseases hospital. The Minister: "Oh, no, it wasn't!" On that occasion ho had submitted tho proposal to Cabinet, and tho Government had taken up. tho attitude that it should use its own freehold land without taking any portion of a Town Belt 1 . Before infringing on the rights of the people very grave reasons must bo given. AVhen the matter had been previously placed before him he did not liavo the information that the 'deputation had given him. Ho asked whether legislation would bo required if the council acquired the land. Mr. O'Shea: No. sir!

The Minister added that he would look at the site himself. In the interests of tho citizens it would be well for the authorities to bo very careful in this matter. He would give- earnest consideration to the whole position.