LEGALITY QUESTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 851, 20 December 1929, Page 10

LEGALITY QUESTION

MOTUIHI FEES BEFORE COUNCIL AGAIN FACILITIES CRITICISED Is the fee charged by the City Council for landing at Motuihi Island illegal? ,pll. E. J. PHELAN asked this Question of the council last even mg, in advancing a suggestion not to charge landing fees until adequate facilities for the public were provided at the marine park. “If wo call the present arrangements facilities.” he said, “we should be prosecuted for allowing unsanitary conditions to exist. The provisions are not decent and we should be ashamed to charge parties to land.” Cr. Phelan’s proposal, vfhieli was an amendment to a Parks Committee recommendation for no further action on the Question of fees, was ruled out of order. The motions considered by the committee were The original motion suggesting charges of 3d for adults and Id for children and the later motion rescinding the first and suggesting Id for adults and no charge for children under 13. The Parks Committee is now, on the motion of Cr. Grey Campbell, to consider a possible new schedule of charges. A company charging 2s passage to the island would be required to pay 3d to the council; Is 6d passage, 2d; and Is, Id. A mass scale was also suggested in cases where shipping companies hire vessels to organisations. For up to 20 passengers, 5s would be the total fee: for 20 to 50, 10s; 50-100, 20s; 100-500. 40s; 500-700, 80s; 750-1,000, 100 s; and over 1,000, 120 s. In bringing forward his amendment. Cr. Phelan said the council also had no right to charge the public until the wharf had been made safe. The Parks Committee’s recommendation to take no action and Cr. Campbell’s schedule did not meet the case, in Cr. Lundon’s view, until legality had been decided. Cr. Phelan’s proposal satisfied to an extent. “No councillor, by any stretch of imagination, can call Motuihi a decent place to go to,” declared. Cr. Phelan, continuing his criticism of the facilities.

Cr. W. H. Murray supported Cr. Phelan’s amendment, but the Mayor ruled it out of order.

A suggestion by Cr. Lundon to defer the question, pending a communication with the Prime Minister asking for a grant toward the cost of repairs to the wharf and the erection of proper facilities, found no seconder. Temporary repairs to the Motuihi Wharf to the sum of £2 50, recommended by the Parks Committee, were approved. Necessary repairs would incur an expenditure of £1,300, according to advice from the Harbour Board.