THOSE CONVENIENCES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 97, 10 September 1912, Page 8

THOSE CONVENIENCES

COUNCIL PETITIONED. BROUGHAM STREET SITE TO ' STAND. There was another phase of that controversial question, the erection of public conveniences in Brougham street, at the Borough Council meeting last night, when a petition was received from 108 residents and ratepayers protesting against their construction. The petition, which was presented by Cr. Morey, ran as follows: have heard with great regret that the Council have decided to erect a public convenience in Brougham street; (2) they are of the opinion that there is no pressing need for such a convenience at the present time, and would urge that there are many works in the borough which should take precedence. They desire to point out that a considerable sum of money will have to be spent if the work itself is to be done in such a way as to be reasonably sanitary, while there mast be also heavy additional annual expenses for caretaking and other charges, and if the Council considers that such convenience is required in the ! borough, then your petitioners would urge that the site selected is unsuitable for the following reasons:—" Here followed a list of objections, a summary of which is as follows: —Narrowness of Brougham street; diversion of traffic that would be caused; that the placing of the culvert alongside the footpath would cause general embarrassment; property in the vicinity would be depreciated; and, further, that the public would be better served if the proposed conveniences were situated away from the centre of the town, i where there were already one or two conveniences. '• THE THING'S ABSURD." Speaking to the petition, Cr. Morey said that dozens of others would have signed it luid they had a guarantee that the structure would not be erected opposite their own property. Ho agreed with the petitioners that there was work of a more urgent nature than the erection of public conveniences. Brougham street was going to be a big busines thoroughfare by-and-bye, but no one would think of erecting a shop of any description if the structure in question were placed there. He also outlined the other objections set out in the petition, all of which he concurred in. The thing was absurd, and lie said he felt very annoyed about it. (Laughter), Cr. Gilbert said councillors had already made up their minds, and it was therefore useless prolonging the debate. Ho accordingly moved that the petition lie on the table. This was seconded by Cr. Hartnell, who sought to dispel the idea that the conveniences Avoukl be erected above ground. He added that some of those jwho signed the petition were not rateI ] payers. j it was pointed out by Cr. Kibby that I I the signatories represented only a very small proportion of the ratepayers, who numbered between 300(1 and 4000. 'v. "AN INSULT!" Cr. Morey, in urging that the petitioni era were entitled to respect, feelingly • remarked: "That the petition should lie ! on the table is an insult to them!" : Cr. Kibby: Would you like it to lie 1 under the table? (Laughter). Several councillors urged that, while ' they had no intention of supporting the 1 petition, they did not wish to appear ; to be discourteous to the petitioners, i They therefore favored the petition be--1 ing received, and the majority of coun- ' cillors decided in favor of this course, ' Cr. Gilbert's motion being lost. : Subsequently, in order to bring matters to a head, Cr. Morey moved the deletion of the clause in the Works Committee's report recommending that the proposed erection of the conveniences be gone on with. In seconding the motion, Cr. Ambury said he was still of the opinion that there were other sites better suited' for the erection of the structure than that selected in Brougham street. Without further discussion, the Council divided on the question, the motion being lost. Those who voted for it were Crs. Amburv, Mannix and Morey. MORE TO BE HEARD OF THE MATTER. Cr. Morey then gave notice of motion ■that the whole of the resolutions dealing with the authorisation of the erection of public conveniences be rescinded.