EASTON PARK

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2611, 26 July 1923, Page 2

EASTON PARK

MEETING OF CITIZENS TO BE CALLED.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Borough Council a letter (previously published) was read from Mr A. S. Easton, expressing his views in regard to Easton Park. This letter had been held over from a previous meeting of the Council. The Mayor said that he would move that a public meeting be called to settle the matter. The previous arrangement entered into with the footballers had been the outcome of' a public meeting and it was only fair that any alteration to that decision should be submitted to the public. This was a democratic policy. The matter was decided by the majority. Cr. Adams said that at present there was no control. Easton Park was a thoroughfare and gates were left open. Something should be done in this matter.

Cr. McMurray pointed out that the Council was the representatives of the citizens and should deal with the matter. Cr. Ross said it was the duty of the Council to decide one way or the other in the matter. He suggested deleting that portion of his suggestion submitted to the Beautifying Society that was not correct, and then submit the proposal. This would give the Council something definite to go on. He also said that he did not agree with the way the Beautifying Society was spending its money. They were planting trees in Union Street at present. It was certainly very nice to have beautified approaches to the town but he considered that money should be spent solely on Ihe reserves. That was one of the main objects the funds were raised for. Tht Mayor then moved that a public meeting he called for Tuesday next to consider matters in connection with Easton Park.

Cr. Adams, in seconding the motion, said that it was useless for the Beautifying Society to go on as at present. It was a waste of money. Cr. Smith said that Mr Easton had written to the Council in reference to Easton Park and his views should be considered. A public meeting might go against these views. The Council should decide the mutter. Cr. McMurray said that a public meeting would give them no finality. The Mayor said that the people had provided the money and should have a voice. The motion wns then put and carried on the casting vote of the Mayor, (lie Mayor and Crs. Walker, Adams, and Thorpe voting for, and Crs. Smith, Ross, Parkin, and McMurray against.