CITY ACTIVITIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1913, Page 6

CITY ACTIVITIES

Several subjects connected with the development of Greater Wellington came before the City Council last night. A report by the new forester, Mr. John M'Phereon, on the planting of the Town Belt, brings this great reserve prominently before the public. He offers a pleasant prospect of walks shaded by lime trees, and belts of pines to shelter splendid groves. Such a vision was given to tho citizens by Mr. J. P. Luke, when he was chairman of the Reserves Committee, about three or four years ago, and ho referred to the preparation of a plan to show possible road lines and paths, clumps and ranks of trees. Unfortunately, he retired then from municipal service, and the promised plan did not appear. Since then some plotting out has been done foi- plantations, but one knows not whether tho corporation has a scheme definitely arranged. For ex*mpl», it wg« decided «om* j,iwo Ago

to plant a portion of the Town Belt near Victoria Collage. Since than the Council hm been friendly to the application for space in that public ground for bowls and croquet, though no hard>andfast sanction hae yet been given. It was mentioned at last evening's meeting that the resolution for th© trees would need to be rescinded in co far as it affected the area desired by the playere of bowl* and croquet, Here was one example of confusion 6f policy, the spectacle of & Council wavering between two magnetic pole*. When the forester recommended the making of ft nursery on tlie Belt, near the Home of Compaesion, Councillor Cameron raised an objection that tennis players and golfers wanted that part of th© people's estate, j Happily, this plea for special interests against tho general advantage of the community did not prevail, but the citizens have no guarantee that next year, with a new Council, a similar agitation will not be successful. If it happens that the burgesees elect a Council of "Little Wellingtonians" the ©yes may be picked out of the Belt for > the ben« fit of comparatively small sections of tho population. As a tflemorabte instance of how the people's interest can bo ignored, wo again refer to the defeated scheme to practically alienate a portion of Kelbimie Park. Before the press or the public had knowledge of the move, the Reserves Committee submitted a report granting the request, and tho proposal was carried by a narrow majority. Ihe Council's decision came a* a surprise to the city next day, but protests were quickly voiced, and the resolution was rescinded. Are the people to be in perpetual danger of «ueli surprise packets, from their representatives J In general politic* such secret policy is not possible j the taxpayers have adequate notice. Why should not municipal electors have the same oppor* tunities to discuss a Council's policy in relation to a public heritage, before any important change is ttade? The Belt should bo planned to show possible playing spaces, plantations, roadways, and paths, and until the Council ha« such a plan it should act very cautiously in leasing any part of the Belt to private clubs of any kind. J The City Engineer (Mr. Morton) gave the Council some well-considered advice for street improvements, ahd wag rightly thanked for his excellent report. Another matter in which Mr. Morton, in conjunction with the City Solicitor, Mr. O'Sheft, has made an admirable move is in the control of street traffic. They have obtained the consent of the Department of Justice to wholly undertake this work for a subsidy of £500 a year, and the Bylaws Committee naturally urges that the offer should be accented. From time to time various attempts at co-operation with the police have been made, but the system has not proved satisfactory for any long period. It would be far better to have the police in straight-out control, on a clear basis, as in cities of America and many other countries. An improvement has long been sorelyneeded. While the police are on the alert for "scorchers" of all kinds, they should spare a little of their eyesight for spittere, who aro just as filthy and dangerous a nuisance to-day as they were ten years agot