WHYTE STREET EXTENSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2355, 15 November 1921, Page 3

WHYTE STREET EXTENSION.

WARM DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL.

At last night’s Council meeting a letter was received from Messrs Moore and Bergin, representing Mr F. S. Easton, submitting a plan of the proposed Whyte Street Extension for the approval of (he Council.

Mr Bergin said there was little to be said in connection with the matter, as the whole thing was quite clear. He pointed out that in dedicating a road under the Public Works Act, the matter had nothing to do jvith the Municipal Corporations Act. The road only had to be formed in accordance with the former Act.

The Mayor moved that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee.

Cr. Martin said that (lie matter had been held up long enough. He was against delay. It was time the whole thing was settled. They had been fooled once, and bluffed over the erection of a culvert. If it was necessary to inspect the work, let them go and inspect it. Mr Bergin said his client wanted a definite “yes” or “no” at that meeting. As Cr. Martin had said, the matter had been held up long enough. The Mayor said he believed that the metal put on the road was not in accordance with their specification, and no footpath had been laid out. The Public Works Committee should go into the matter and report at the next meeting.

Cr. Coley said that this was the cnly meeting at which the Council could do anything. The Council had never had a map before. Before the road was laid out, a map should have been submitted to the Council.

Cr. Walker agreed that the Public Works Committee should inspect the road.

Cr. Martin: “Who said the footpaths were to be asphalted?”

The Mayor said that the Council had, and (hey were quite within their rights in doing so.

Cr. Thompson asked for a defiinition of a dedicated street.

Mr Bergin said that the fact he wished to stress was that the application had nothing to do with the Municipal Corporations Act at all. If Mr East on had applied for a private street, then (he Council could lay down stringent conditions. With dedicated land, (he land lias to be transferred lo (he Council? and (he Council (hen owns the land. Mr Easton bad done all he was legally compellable to.do. The Council has no power, under the Public Works Act, to compel him lo lay down footpaths.

Cr. Thompson asked if it was necessary for (lie Council lo accept the land.

Mr Bergin said that it was abso In tel v necessary.

Cr. Martin moved, seconded by Cr. Rand, that providing Mr Easton has complied with all requirements as set out by the Public Works Act as regards the construction of a new street, his application he acceded to.

Cr. Ross considered the Public Works Committee should go into the matter.

Cr. Smith agreed, and considered it a slight on the Committee if ibis were not done. Cr. Rarid asked why in the past people who had given land for roads had not been compelled hv the Council to put down footpaths. He inslaneed Hillary Street. The Mayor said that it had been compulsory to put in culverts in Hillary Street.

Mr Bergin said that the metal on this road was all right, and he described the formation.

The Mayor said that it would not he right to approve Hie plan without inspecting the road. They were guarding the ratepayers’ interests. Cr. Whibley said that he would support, the motion. It was quite olear that the Council had been mislead at the Council table. They had been told that they could force Mr Easton to put in a. culvert. They could not. If they had accepted his previous offer they would have had an 18-feet culvert put in, when they could not. legally force him to put one foot in. The Council could not force Mr Easton to asphalt footpaths. This is the opinion of the Municipal Association’s solicitor. He asked why the Mayor only was aware of this faet. The Mayor had the opinion before him, and yet he got up at the meeting and said that the Council could force Mr Easton to put the footpaths down. The footpaths leading to Whyte Street extension is not even curbed. The new street is the lies! formed street, in Eoxton. The Council knew that, it was all right, so why should they hang the matter up for another fortnight. They knew the specifications had been carried out. It had been said at the Council meeting by a Councillor that Mr Easton had plenty of money, so let him pay 'for it. Cr. Smifh denied that this statement had been made publicly.

Cr. Whibley said that the statement had been made at the Council table. Cr. Coley said that it had been said that the Mayor had an opinion from the Association’s solicitor, and as one of the Public Works Committee he wanted to see it. They should Jake every precaution to have the work well done. It was the proper procedure for the Public Works Committee to be satisfied first, and then bring down a report. Cr. Martin said that he was absolutely opposed to letters being withheld from the Council. He took exception to the Mayor’s action.

Cr. Whibley explained that he had had no information whatever from anyone about the letter. While going through the correspondence file to look up the specifications, he had seen a copy of a letter from the Town Clerk to Palmerston North Council. The Town Clerk had given him no information. '

The Mayor said that he had certain information which he had not submitted to the Council. He had several letters in connection with the street. He would place all information before the Public W ork.s Committee, and bring up a report fit the next meeting.

Cr. Whibley asked that the letter he read.

The Mayor asked if that was a fair thing. i Cr. Whibley replied that it was., The Mayor suggested that the Council go into committee. ; Cr. Martin said that that was a cowardly thing to do.

Cr. Bryant objected to Cr. Martin’s remark, and requested the Mayor to ask him to withdraw it.'Cr. Martin said that, under the circumstances he would withdraw the remark, hut lie was opposed to going ip to committee. He considered the public should know what was being done by the Council. Crs. Martin, Ross and Whibley voted against going into committee.

The Council then went into committee. Upon resuming, the Council decided to refer the matter to the Public Works Committee, to be reported upon at next meeting. The motion was decided upon the easting vote of the Mayor, the voting being:—For: The Mayor and Crs. Coley, Walker, Thompson, Smith; against: Crs. Bryant, Ross, Rand, Martin, and Whibley.