Baths Injunction May be Withdrawn

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 489, 19 October 1928, Page 8

Baths Injunction May be Withdrawn

“CITY HAS TO GIVE IN” DIXIELAND TO GO AHEAD The possibility is that the City Council will agree to the withdrawal of the injunction against Dixieland, Ltd., which prevents the company from building its baths alongside the Point Chevalier reserve. Members of the City Council agreed last evening that they coaid do little else but give in, but the knotty point yet to be decided is that of which site alongside the reserve the Parks Co®, mittee will agree to. The new chairman, Cr. J. Knight, has previously expressed his preference for the site proposed for the defeated city baths, a site which Dixieland refuses to con’ sider. Dixieland desires to build on tfcs rocky area at the northern end of tho beach, and has offered to leave a twochain gap between the cliffs and the baths in case a roadway is desired at some future time. The question came before the council last evening, when Dr. F. J. Rayncr wrote asking if the council would nor agree to withdraw the Supreme Court injunction, and allow the company to build in the place originally desired The Mayor, Mr. G. B&ildon, said the city could not now hope to build bath and the question -was y hether ti would remove the injunction and get rid of the possibility of the baths being built oft the beach in front of the cabaret. He moved that tho Parks Committee be given power to act on the question of the injunctio;. PERMIT GRANTED “The question now is which is the best position for the baths. He has the permit from the Marine Depart ment,” he concluded. “I am in favour of having the baths where there will be no break In the continuity of the beach,” remarked Cr. A. J. Entrican. “We should have an undertaking from the department that the baths come under the provisions of the city by-laws. We should also have control of the beach." The Mayor: We tried to get that. “Apparently we have no say, and it would be a calamity if the baths were erected out from the beach,” remarked Cr. J. A. C. Allum. “We must get them in the best position.” PETITIONERS’ PROTEST Cr. M. J. Coyle then presented a petition from 265 Auckland residents containing an emphatic protest against the granting to Dixieland, Ltd., the permit to build baths that will tak> up any portion of the sandy beach at Point Chevalier, or that will obstruct the passage of pedestrians round the foreshore. “Further,” the petition went on, “we protest against any bath being built where girls can conveniently go from the baths to the dance hall in bathing attire. “We would also remind you that citizens generally do not desire baths at Point Chevalier, and prefer to swim In the open sea.” Of the 265 signatures, which were headed by Mr. Harold Schmidt, only two were shown as residents of Point Chevalier district. Names had been canvassed from as far afield as Birkenhead, Tamaki, Ellerslie, Remuera, Epsom, and Takapuna. Laughter greeted the reading of the first name on the list.

Cr. Coyle said he agreed with the sentiments in the petition as far as they concerned the sandy beach, bu: he was prepared to agree to the bathi going at the point where the city hail proposed to build its baths. Otherwise he would have to endeavour t i secure an injunction himself.

Cr. W. H. Murray ridiculed the suggestion that the baths and cabaret run together would result in the immoralities that certain men had suggested. “All we can do Is to see that tt'baths are erected in the least hnrnif"i position possible,” said Cr. J. V. Kealey. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baiidon, said the petition was barely in order, but iras quite representative. It even wett out to Mangere. The motion was carried, and the question referred to the Parks Committee with power to act.