PUBLIC OPINION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 137, 17 October 1913, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION.

A COLUMN FOR THE PEOPLE This column is " The People's Column." We invite them to express their views on all public questions and matters affecting the district. We do not identify ourselves with the opinions expressed bv our correspondents Drury Public Hall Extension Scheme.

I TO THE EDITOR. |

• Sir, —In reference to the report ii the " Times " dated 7th inst., concerning the Drury Road Board's discussion on the abovo 3cheme, there are several items that perhaps it might be better were the public fully enlightened upon. Firstly: The so-called " hall committee " is a misnomer for the six individuals who 'waited upon the Eoad Board, as this committee does not contain one shareholder in the Drury Public Hall. They are all rank outsiders as far as the hall and its management are concerned, and therefore nonentities in the matter in which they desire the Board to act. Several are not evon ratepayers in the Drury Road Board district. Secondly: Mr Coldicutt, the spokesman of the deputation, asked that "sufficient ground" be acquired for the extension of the hall Now, I desire to point out that this "sufficient ground" may be acquired without any deputation to the Road Board, as the offer has been made by Mrs Brooks to facilitate the acquiring of as many feet required for the enlarging of the hall at either the west side or back of the hall,. the chairman of the present Road Board being one of the deputation that waited upon Mrs Brooks asking if she would be willing to sell to the hall shareholders sufficient ground for the necessary alterations. Therefore these alterations may be accomplished without the Road Board or hall shareholders interfering with a few feet of breathing face, which in a few years may bo of inestimable value to the people of Drury. All other townships in this proud Dominion of ours are securing wider thoroughfares and more breathing space in their centres, and it now behoves those who take the responsibility of even Drury that they do not sell their valued heritage for a mess of pottage. Evidently some error has crept into the " Times " report concerning the Great South road. The road on the eastern side of the hall is used every day of the week, and is not only a '-paper "road but a gazetted road, under the control of the Drury Road Board, any fence may he immediately removed at their discretion. The Great South road is gazetted, and is shown on the deeds of every land transaction on the main metalled road from Auckland to Mercer, and right on, passing in front of and bounding the Drury public hall. This is the road the so-called hall committee ask our guardians to confiscate to their wishes, the King's main highway through the North Island of New Zealand. The Road Board, if Mrs Brooks raised no objections, would give her a few feet of her own property, as if the roadway was altered by twenty-seven feet to the west her property, according to deeds, follows to the Great South roal, as that is her boundary. Thirdly: Acquiring land under the public Works Act for private purposes. I do nut know who is the author or originator of such a proposition ; it speaks well for his , intelligence of the law. It is said , that the hall is a public library. Well, I hold receipts in connection with business done with this institu- , tion, and not one of them contains the word Drury Public Library, but Drury Public Hall; the shareholders , are recognised only as such of the ] public hall. The administrators of ( the before-mentioned institution are directors of the Drury Public Hall, and that for the past thirty years ( Lastly : Let me emphasise that! ] sufficient ground is offered by Mrs I Brooks at either the side or rear of j ; the hall for all necessary alterations, j j ind 1 trust may be acquired, for undoubtedly there is a great need , [or enlargement. i

Thanking you in anticipation for insertion and apologising for trpsp,!,:siuj;' Kj much on j'uur v.iluod -pari l , i .Hi!. eU ~

'•INTERESTED IN HALL ENLARGEMENT "