KENT TERRACE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12612, 24 November 1926, Page 11

KENT TERRACE

“OUR ONLY BOULEVARD” REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED TO GOVERNMENT CONCLUSION OF INQUIRY The Kent terrace inquiry was con eluded at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, when having listened to a summing-up by Mr John O’Shea (city solicitor) and jVIr A. Leigh Hunt (appearing for the objectors), Mr E. Page, S.M., stated-that he would submit his report to the Government. Mr Hunt said that so far as he was concerned, the council had completely failed to show that the traffic considerations were of importance. If the council was allowed to go on with the work. it would mean that Wellington would be deprived of its only real boulevard. It seemed quite cer tain that if the work were gone on with at once it would Ultimately prove to be a very costly undertaking. The whole matter should be deferred until the local Town Planning Board was set up some time in January next. The matter of one-way traffic in Kent terrace should be thoroughly investigated. Tbe suggestion that cars should run in Cambridge terrace was also worthy of consideration, and it would prohablv be found that the engineering difficulties which had heen mentioned were nothing more than a honr«y Surely their sole aim in life should not he the running of motorcars and the convenience of motorists. Was- there not room in life for other considerations, such as the beauty of trees? The Wellington City Council had been deplorably lacking in its duty of tree-nlanting. Mt O'Shea: “That’s quite improper.” Mr Hunt r “They have been lacking as far the citv urooer is concerned. *’ 'Hie planting of tree® in the said Mr Hunt, would male 7 * the eiliaens healthier and hanpier. There seemed to be a desire on tbe part of manv rveonle to cut down trees as soon ae they grew. MR O'SHEA’S VIEWS Mr O’Shea contended that Mr Hunt had endeavoured to show that there were few accidents in Kent terrace, but actually there should be no accidents at all. The police apparently thought that the number of accidents would be greatly reduced if the City Council scheme were put into operation. Councillor Aston had expressed tbo view that tbo result of tbe conn cil’s work would be to make Kent terrace a death-tran, but with all do ference to Councillor Aston ho was not. by any means a traffic exuert. Figures showed that traffic wen* ■up Kent terrace at the rate of ten vehicles per minute. In regard to Mr Hunt’s complaint about the Citv tree-planting policy. Mr O’Shea said that the council had spent more money on treeoTanting ’ than any other city in New Zealand. - The Public Works Department, the Lands Department, and the Police Department had all given their unqualified support to the proposals of the council. If it was found that the alterations resulted m greater dangers to pedestrians and motorists steps cduld be taken to counteract those dangers, but he believed that this reform, as had been tbe case with other reforms brought about by the council in face of strong opposition, would nrove a complete success. Mr Page said he would submit his report to the Government.