“BEATING THE AIR”

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 56, 30 November 1926, Page 5

“BEATING THE AIR”

MAYOR ON KENT TERRACE CRITICS HOBBY TO BEAUTIFY CITY TWO WAY TRAFFIC TO BE ' CONSIDERED “It is amazing to me,” said the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) yesterday, “to read in the Press the paltry suggestions levelled largely at me personally concerning the Kent-Cam-bridge Terrace improvements. I have had no actual opportunity of knowing the words used by Councillor H. D. Bennett in his address at Wadestown, when he is alleged to have said ‘That the Kent Terrace improvement was a hobby of mine,’ nor do 1 know in what sense these words were used. I must candidly confess that I have one well-grounded hobby, and that is to beautify the city and to make the traffic conditions a little safer for the growing needs of the people. 1 cannot accept the suggestion that, had I agreed to the deputation’s request, which was a direct negative, to hold the work over for a fortnight, that time and expense would have been saved. I was well aware of the remedies at the disposal of the objectors, but felt that if they were going to take action they must be forced to do it at once, and not stand it over for a fortnight. As the proposed scheme involved three committees, viz., traffic, works, and reserves, the right committee to deal with it was, naturally, the executive committee, which is the finance committee, as in this committee all other committees are represented by their respective chairmen.

“As the chairman of the reserves committee was present, and did not make any request to have it referred to his committee, it is clear that at the time he did not feel any necessity for this to be done. “It is beating the air to say that there was any lack of necessary information before the council for a complete decision. Alternative plans with the engineer’s plan and cost of works was laid on the table, and no Councillor can say, with credit to himself, that he did not know what he was voting for, when the resolution was passed without a dissenting voice. “Considerable complaint was made that this was passed in committee. As a matter of fact, it was discussed generally in open council, and the tnatter was then referred to couucil-in-committee to consider ways and means of financing the work before final decision. This is a universal practice adopted by all councils, as well as the Harbour Board, and I do not feel that any apology is necessary in this connection. Surely those hitherto opposed to the scheme must accept the commission’s ruling, after evidence tendered from all sides, extending over two days, the net result of which was a complete justification of the council’s scheme. It is stated that tiie inquiry revealed the fact that the director of parks and reserves was against the council’s policy. I may say the inquiry also revealed that the Public Works engineers, the Landis Department officers, police officers, the traffic inspectors, and a high authority on town planning, believed that the work was essential in the interests of public safetv. Surely writers to, and readers of, 'the local Press are prepared to accept this as an evidence that the council’s ruling was based on sound reason. “In the Commissioner’s report he refers to two-way traffic in both Kent and Cambridge Terraces and this suggestion will have careful consideration, but the weight of information at the disposal of the' council is favourable to one-way traffic. As the distance between the tramline and the footpath is 15 feet, there is really not nearly as much danger as exists in Molesworth Street, and quite a number of other streets where the same circumstance prevails. As a matter of fact, the total distance available at present for all the traffic between the nearest tramline and the footpath is 18 feet 4 inches. “In conclusion, I must say I adhere to my first statement, that while this work is not being done because of the Royal visit, the public will be with me in the desire that I expressed to the council, that it should be completed so that the benefits of it should be available to the public for the festivals of that momentous occasion.”