GOOD TENANT LOST

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 1

GOOD TENANT LOST

CIVIC SQUARE SITE “COUNCIL DALLIED TOO LONG” MR. WARNOCK’S DECLARATION The fact that Sir Benjamin Fuller, the theatrical magnate, had cast longing eyes in the direction of the Civic Square when searching for a site for his firm’s new Auckland Theatre, was, declared Mr. A. J. Warnock at Point Chevalier last night, more or less com-

mon knowledge. Mr. Warnock was given an attentive hearing by over 100 ratepayers at Point Chevalier. He was accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of the chairman, Mr. F. G. Rose, president of the Point Chevalier Ratepayers’ Association. “When we lost Sir Benjamin Fuller we lost a good prospective tenant,” he declared, “and it might not be so very easy to find another.” But Mr. Warnock accused the city council of “dallying far too long.” ■‘The result was, Sir Benjamin Fuller, being a business man,” explained Mr. Warnock, went across the road and purchased the Tonson Garlick Company site. WITHIN SIX MONTHS Mr. Warnock gave the ratepayers definite assurance that the new proposals to commercialise the Civic Square would be put into practice within six months, if he were returned as mayor of Auckland. And this was despite the fact, he said, that both Sir James Gunson and Mr. George Baildon had devoted two years to the project. Mr. Warnock was emphatically against disposing of the land by way of a Glasgow lease or to a purchaser of the freehold outright. “Not one inch should be sold,” he said. ‘This land should be the property of the citizens of Auckland for all time.” The statement that the city council conducted its business in a star chamber method was emphatically denied by Mr. Warnock. A special gallery, he insisted, had been provided for ratepayers to hear their own business discussed. Mr. Warnock also declared that he had both spoken and voted against the increase in tram fares. He had even supported an amendment to delay the increase until the new council took .office.