"NOT REQUIRED."

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 22 March 1915, Page 7

"NOT REQUIRED."

MAYOR'S OPPOSITION." TO PUBLIC MEETING. In reply to the Civic League's request that a public meeting should he ailed to onsider the waterfront railway schemes, the. Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) has written to Mrs. F. E. Baunie as follows:—"Dear .Madam, I acknowledge yours ot the 17 th inst. I observe that the Civic League does not itself ask mc to call a public meeting. It suggests that the Town Planning League should be called together for this purpose. I doubt, however, the propriety of having a public meeting at all. What would a public meeting do? Is It to wrestle with intricate railway plans and the details of a problem largely technical? If so, the public meeting might easily make a public fool of itself. You may suggest that the public meeting should elect nine or ten citizens to examine the matter; but is any public meeting likely to swallow a "ticket" of ten gentlemen carefully selected before-hand? If not, what guarantee have you that the most unsuitable persons might not be put on the inquiry committee. Moreover, is any committee likely to be more publicspirited or competent than the City Council, the Harbour Board, or the Chamber of Commerce, who all speak, after careful examination, with one mind in support of 'Mr. Hiley's scheme. A public meeting is considered by some people as a panacea for every ill, but I think in this instance, such a proceeding would be obviously futile. Moreover, I surely cannot be expected to take any step which might stultify the carefullyconsidered action of the City Council and myself. We gave every phase of this question anxious consideration, and we have taken the broad view in the i vital interests of the city. Mr. Hiley's Railway scheme is absolutely essential to Auckland's commercial progress. The Chamber of Commerce has declined to call a public meeting. I believe every public man in Auckland supports the scheme. No engineer of any repute can be .found to endorse the only possible alternative — Mr. Metcalfe's tunnel scheme idea. Another point, too, is that our working people are concerned. The expenditure of two millions means large employment at Auckland just at a time when hundreds may be out of work. Under all these circumstances, I must respectfully decline to accede to your request."