RAILWAY SCHEME

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20494, 10 May 1938, Page 11

RAILWAY SCHEME

SINKING OF THE LINE HILL REMOVAL OPPOBED PLATFORM OF SOCIETY'S TICKET Advocating the retention of Garden Place Hill and the sinking of the railway line across Victoria Street as the main planks in their platform, the candidates for the Hamilton Borough Council who comprise the Garden Place Preservation Society’s ticket addressed a public meeting in the Methodist Hall last evening. Mr C. J. Parlane presided. Mr D. Seymour explained that the candidates of the ticket were nominated by the Garden Place Preservation Society with a view to opposing the removal of the hill. In the issue of the sinking of the railway line, which Mr Seymour considered the crux of the problem, all the nominees were free agents. “Armageddon of Hamilton” “Garden Place is the Armageddon of Hamilton, where many a dispute has arisen and from where litigations have emanated from as far back as 40 years ago.

“When the cut was put through at Anglesea Street the question of preserving the hill did not present itself.” added Mr Seymour, “but the councillors had sentenced the hill to death long before they brought the matter before the people.” Mr Seymour proceeded by criticising the actions of the council in their dealings with the people. He recalled that the. Frankton Town Hall, under the control of the Hamilton Borough Council, had not been available for the Garden Place Preservation Society to hold a public meeting prior to the poll. Mr Seymour explained that £136 of ratepayers’ money had been used for propaganda expenses on behalf of the councillors in favour of the removal of the hill. “If the Garden Place ticket is returned we will endeavour to find out how the money was spent,” added Mr Seymour. He continued by criticising the alleged manner in which the councillors in favour of the preservation of the hill had acted at the meeting on the hill prior to the first poll. He claimed that every effort was made to baulk any later meeting by members of the Preservation Society, but despite those efforts a successful meeting had been held.

A denial of the recent assertion that, the area of the hill going back from the Victoria Street frontage was a public road was made by Mr Seymour, who warned the meeting that the Borough Council could gain authority to do any work it liked on the hiH. He considered that in the event of a claim against the council the council should compromise that claim. The removal of the hill was the matter which the ratepayers vetoed at the poll, not the raising of the loan. "The council now claims, thanks to the special rating area,” continued Mr Seymour, “that it has power to pull the bolt and hang the hill. It rests with the electors now.” The Society’s Platform In dealing with the platform of the Garden Place Preservation Society Mr Seymour said that the sinking of the railway was the real problem. It took precedence over all other issues facing the town. The sinking of the line would solve Ihe traffic problems, eliminate risk, and enable the town to develop. The second plank was the conservation of the hill. The society asked for a mandate to beautify the bill and establish a parking area on iop. Both parties—the society nominees and Ihe councillors in favour of the hill removal —were agreed that the private properties on the hill should be acquired.

“ The poll was defeated.” said Mr W. YV. Dillicar. “ That should have been final, but it wasn't and the council declared a special rating area for another poll. That is where the council went wrong; they broke their faith and lost their honour. I think the removal of the hill would have been under way now If the Loans’ Board had not held up the finance. “ The special poll decision meant that the council thought the vote of the men who owned the properties near the hill were worth more than those of the labourer. It was against the principles of democracy. I have never heard of such a thine before.”

Mr Dillicar outlined the circumstances leading to the formation of the Citizens’ Association, saying that a I meeting was first called and representatives of the Garden Place Preservation Society attended, but when the question of the hill was raised by the speaker he was ruled out of order. “ The sinking of the railway is of supreme importance,” he added. “If that is accomplished the necessity for the removal of the hill will be eliminated. Everything is in favour of the railway scheme, especially the reports of the engineers." Better Roads Needed In Conclusion Mr Dillicar advocated the raising of a loan for the improvement of the roads in the borough. Mr J. Beagley offered his services as a councillor for he thought it was time that the will of the ratepayers was honoured. He considered the responsibility of the rate, if the hill was removed. would fall on all the ratepayers and not on those In the special rating area.

Mr Beagley advocated a better water supply with a formation of a Wafer Board to bring the supply from Tauplri. Mr F. J. Marfell said he was one of the councillors in Cambridge who fought for a Town Hall, and be hnd many years' experience in municipal administration. “It is a disgrace.” said Mr Marfell.” that Hamilton has not a Town Hall.” TT. TTnlfp. j>. T. Gate and .T. Treloar, the other nominees on the ticket, were unavoidably absent.