BOROUGH STRONG ROOM

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4777, 17 November 1924, Page 3

BOROUGH STRONG ROOM

r ERECTION ON PBIVATBPBOPEBTY decision of council. ••J must protest against council money being spent on a private individual’s property, and I ask that my protest be recorded,” said the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) after a majority of the.P.aerpa Borough Council had decided ,to build a strong-room at the present borough at the meeting on Thursday night. The question of procuring suitable Borough Council chambers has been well discussed on several occasions. The Mayor pointed out that there was a resolution on .the books authorising a poll to be taken with regard to borrowing £4OOO for a town hall and offices. The council in committee had agreed not to go on with that proposal. Notice of motion should be given to rescind it and the matter reopened. but if all .the councillors were the Standing Orders could be suspended and he would accept a resolution that night. Cr. Flatt moved the necessary .motion rescinding the resolution which was carried. The Mayor said that '.he present, offices .were not in keeping with the progress' of the town and were not suitable. They had no strong-room, and he did not think the council should provide one in premises of which they had only a monthly tenure. They had many valuable documents and pl ( ans, and at present these were not safe. They were just lying about on the shelves. Cr. Flatt: This room is all right. The Mayor did not agree that even the public room was (satisfactory. He suggested that the council should borrow sufficient to erect offices now and later on the bigger scheme could be discussed. The council was against the big hall scheme, and further investigations could be made about the experience of other places. He was opposed to asking ratepayers to submit to a rate for a luxury, but a small council chamber was a necessity. • For about £2250 they could "“build premises that would suit the borough for 15 to 20 years, and for about £2500 they could add on a rest, room. He had prepared a sketch (which was passed round and examined) showing a suitable brick, building for council room, town clerk’s office, Mayor’s room,, assistants’ room, strong-room, and rest room. The question of a site, the Mayor declared, was the If the library could be shifted to the proper library site that question could easily be settled. Cr. Flatt moved that a special committee be set up to make full inquiry regarding the building of council chambers and municipal hal.l and report some time next year, and that I*the committee make arrangements J for the erection of a strong-room at the present premises. Cr. Flatt pointed out that there had been much dis- " cussion on the matter, in private and in committee. He did not think there was any-need for other council chambers at present. The proposed committee could get information from places where picture theatres were controlled by the council and could get definite information regarding the revenue. He admitted .that a strongroom was needed for their documents, but one could be built by the council for about £5O. - The Mayor thought from about £lOO to £l5O would be required. Cr. Flatt continued that with regard to the tenure some arrangement could be made with the landlord ot the present premises. The council was divided on the matter, and there was no use going to the ratepayers asking for permission to borrow when the council itself was not unanimous. Cr. Edwards seconded the motion "to enable the matter to'be discussed. He thought suitable arrangements could be made with the landlord with regard to the erection of a strongroom, and the whole question of a town hall and borough offices could be reopened in 18 months’ time. Cr. Silcock was opposed to (shelving the matter till next year. There might be another council in office then. He did not think it was right for the council to build on to another man’s premises. The present -were not suitable, and were not worthy of the council. He pointed out that the proposed expenditure on the building of a strong-room, say £lOO, .would pay the interest on the sum proposed for a council chamber for two years. He thought the question should be settled and not shelved till next year. It was tbc site that was at the bottom of .the whole matter—lower' end versus upper end at the borough. It was a pity it had ever been introduced. They needed some, place to store their files and documents, and he thought building a strong-room was - wasting money. Cr. Flatt pointed out that, it would be useless going to the ratepayers, as council’ itself was divided. Next year they would have all necessary information about the larger scheme. A strong-room, which was needed, could be built as soon as arrangements were made’ with the landlord. * After the other councillors had spoken on similar lines the motion was" put and carried on a show of hands, .the Mayor and Crs. Lamb and Silcock voting against it. The Mayor asked that nis protest be recorded. The Mayor, Crs. Flatt, Lamb, and Silcock were nominated as the subcommittee. The Mayor asked that his name be withdrawn. He had spent much time over the council chambers question, and there )vere many other things that required attention. He would not be a party to spending council money on private property. The majority of the council had agreed to the expenditure and their wish would be carried out, but he would not be a party to it. He could not agree to spend ratepayers’ money on those premises and would not act on the committee. Cr. Flatt and others did not thimt the Mayor was taking up the right \ attitude. He was the Mayor, and had experience of building, and as such

should act on the committee, but the Mayor firmly declined. Or. Lamb also asked to he excused. He did not intend to seek i e-election next year, and probably would not be a member of the council when the report of the committee was discussed. - Cr. Brenan urged Cr, Lamb to agree to act owing to his knowledge of building. Cr. Silcock declared that he would be very busy during the next few months, but'as the report on the hall scheme was not required until about April he consented to act Cr. Edwards was appointed instead of the Mayor.