WHARF GATES ABANDONED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1891, Page 5

WHARF GATES ABANDONED.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.

When the petition to the Harbour Board requesting the reconsideration of their decision to erect gates at the wharf was presented ab the Board's meeting yesterday afternoon, Mr Butcher moved that the prayer of the petition be grantad. Mr Dignan seconded.

Mr Devore spoke in favour of the motion. The public had not asked for the gates; on the other hand, here wa3 a distinct pronouncement against them.

Mr McMillan opposed bhe motion. He believed the general feeling of the citizens was in favour of their erection, and there were many reasons, such as thab bhey were a protection at night, why they should be erecbed.

Mr Upbon said he had heard noargumenb in favour of the gates, and he did not believe they were necessary. He thought in times of disturbance men would be rather annoyed than quieted by the gates. During the late strike he had watched the men, and ho thought the gates were inclined rather to increase than to allay excitement. He was opposed bo bhe erection of the gates at the time because he saw no reason in the conduct of the men requiring such barricades. Then they would require somebody to look after the gates, probably the police, and from what he knew of the police they were likely to act stupidly in times of oxcitoment. There was no possibility of danger from the working men of Auckland such as to justify the spending money in this fashion. Messrs Witheford and Trenwith spoke in favour of the motion, and Mr Alison against it.

Mr Niccol said thab the gates would be very useful in times of excitement. Before the erection of the late barricades tho wharves were so crowded that work could not with safety bo carried on. But when the barricades were up, tho men at work wero able to proceed quietly. In fact, those who had watched the progress of the strike over the colony said that it was owing to the erection of the gates that the men were so peaceable in Auckland.

Mr Houghton also spoke in favour of the erection.

The motion was then put and carried by 7 to 6. For: Messrs Crowther, Butcher, Upton, Witheford, Devore, Trenwith, Dignun. Against: Messrs McMillan, Savage, Alison, Henderson, Houghton and Niccol. This practically means that the gates will not ab presenb be erected.