Defence Extensions Alarm Devonport

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 754, 29 August 1929, Page 7

Defence Extensions Alarm Devonport

LOSS ON RATES ‘COMPLAINT TO MINISTERS WELLINGTON, Wed. A protest against the extension of naval and military works at Devonport on the grounds of loss of rates on the land absorbed .and possible danger from the storage of explosives was lodged today, when Mr. E. A. Aldridge, Mayor of Devonport, and Mr. A. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata, approached the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, and the Minister of Defence, the Hon. T. M. Wilford. The members of the deputation said that no details were given for the £33,000 appearing in the estimates for extension purposes. It was a question of vital importance for Devonport, as the borough already had a large percentage of land not paying rates Mr. Wilford: The main expenditure would be for work in connection with Calliope Dock. Mr. Aldridge said this would increase the traffic on Queen’s Parade, a road maintained by the borough. The Government, said the Prime Minister, could not take responsibility for Admiralty work. It was pointed out, however, that portion of the works was distinctly military, and Sir Joseph said he would make representations to Commodore Blake when he returned to New Zealand. Devonport, he agreed, was in a unique position. The members of the deputation said that the borough viewed with alarm the proposal to spend £2,000 on the provision for storing additional explosives at Fort Takapuna. It was understood that over 1,000 tons of T.N.T. shells, together with cordite, detonators and other explosives were stored in the fort. A short distance away was the Vauxhall School, attended by 400 children. Further, they continued, there was the financial aspect. The ammunition dump was in the middle of 28 acres of the most beautiful part of the borough, and it was a tremendous strain on the borough’s finances to have so much valuable land locked up for defence purposes. The Government unimproved value was £56,000, and the land should return to the borough £3,000 a year in rates. Capitalising the unimproved value of £56,000, it was estimated the cost to the people of New Zealand for the storage of the ammuition was about £6,000 a year. It was suggested the explosives should be stored on some point in the harbour not frequented by the public. Mr. Wilford pointed out that experts had given an assurance that there was no danger from the storage of the ammunition in its present location. The representations would be taken into consideration.