FIRE STATION SITE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1932, Page 14

FIRE STATION SITE

ANOTHER LONG DEBATE

VIEWS WILL NOT MEET

COUNCIL AND FIRE BOARD

Last night the City Council agaj^ debated at length the question of a site for the new Central Fire Station. The Fire Board is maintaining its old stand that the present site is preferable, and the majority of the councillors hold that a site in the angle between Jervois quay and Wakefield street is just as good from a fire brigade point of view and better from the point of view of the surroundings of the Town Hall The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) said that the committee set up by the council had met the Fire Board and a general discussion resulted. Members of the board reiterated their view that the only suitable site was that which they were occupying at the present time. Their principal contention was that the existing site had a better getaway than the site offered by the council, and that was a vital factor. Mr. Hislop said he had produced plans showing the areas of the two sites and the volume of traffic in each case,and it was obvious that the site suggested provided a better get-away. To give the Fire Board the present site, which was really no better than the one suggested, would destroy for all time the possibility of future councils desiring to have a wider area opposite the Town Hall. Mr. Hislop said that at the discussion he had asked those present not to be guided by preconceived ideas and prejudices. Subsequent to the conference, said Mr. Hislop, the Fire Board had written stating that the board members were unanimously of the opinion that the site at present occupied was preferable to that offered by the council, in which view they were supported by the Inspector of Fire Brigades and their own officers. The board therefore asked that the matter should be reconsidered by the council. The Mayor formallymoved'that the council should. adhere to its previous decision. Councillor "W. H. Bennett agreed with the views expressed by Mr. Hislop. EXPERT OPINION AGAINST COUNCIL. Councillor E. Semple, M.P., said that he was in favour of retaining the land in front of the Town Hall for municipal purposes, but he did not think that the city could afford in times like the present to purchase private land for a new fire station, and therefore felt that the station must go on Corporation land. The advice of the-board's experts was definitely that the present site -was the better from the point of view of get-away, and this site offered great advantages in-regard to sunlight for staff quarters. The question of sunlight and fresh air was very important, said Councillor W. Appleton, for it was very necessary that staff conditions should be as good as possible. The fire station was for the benefit of the people of Wellington city, and it would be a very sad thing if the council and the Fire Board could not get together. Providing that satisfactory purchase terms could be arranged, he could see no objection to tho granting of the present site. The talk of open spaces ho regarded as moonshine: there were thousands of acres of open spaces within, a few yards of tho Town Hall. TERMS OP PURCHASE. Councillor T. Forsyth said that the present site had been proved suitable, and the Fire Board considered it would continue to bo suitable. He deprecated the suggestion that a new station on the present site would spoil the effect of any layout of civic buildings in the area in the future. Ke'ferring to the question of the terms under which the board -would take over the present site, Councillor Forsyth said that the board members, at the conference with the Mayor, had made it clear that the board would not endeavour to take advantage of the clauses of the Act which provided for twenty-six annual payments of 5 per cent, of valuation. . He agreed with Councillor Appleton that the southerly aspect of the site suggested by the Mayor would make for. less satisfactory living conditions for the staff. If the present site was refused, the board might be forced to purchase land elsewhere, and if the present site was left vacant the council would find it like many more —unlettable. Councillor W. Duncan suggested that a committee of experts might be set up to bring the matter to a head. PRACTICALLY NO DIFFERENCE. Between the two sites, said Councillor H. A. Huggins, there was all the difference between Tweedledum and Tweedlcdee. If the board had, as had been said, still another better and cheaper site, it should •go there. Councillor Forsyth: Not better. The Mayor's proposal should be supported, said Councillor Huggins. Councillor S. Holm moved that no further action should be taken, which will mean that the offer of the alternative site remains open. Councillor Forsyth: Very helpful. Councillor Holm said he thought the Fire Board should be out of the area altogether. The previous council had decided that the block should be taken for a civic square. Councillor Appleton: That's dead. Councillor Holm suggested that a suitable site could be offered in part of the corporation yard at Clyde quay, ucar the destructor.

There was practically no difference between the sites, said Councillor J. N. Wallace; the Fire Board should meet the council.

After further discussion a vote was taken, the result of which was that, by 9 votes to 7, the council decided to offer the board the Jervois quay site again. .