STILL UNSOLVED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1927, Page 10

STILL UNSOLVED.

CIVIC SQUARE PUZZLE.

CITY COUNCIL DIVIDED. A FRUITLESS DISCUSSION. COMMERCIAL PROPOSAL DEFEATED There was a prospect last evening that the City Council would reach finality in regard to the old market site (popularly known as the civic square), but a long discussion resulted in the defeat of a motion to use the area for commercial purposes, with, in addition, provision I or requirements. A motion with object in view -was moved by Mr. J. A. C. Allum, and there was a large "gallery" of ratepayers to listen to the discussion that .followed. In presenting the motion, Mr. Allum said that in 1920 the city engineer made a comprehensive report on the use of the site. If the present resolution -were carried? he would move a further resolution, that the city engineer should report to the council in regard to the necessary areas for commercial and traffic purposes. That was a matter that could be left to the officers to determine. The matter had been discussed for six or seven years, and they should come to a decision. Miss Melville supported the motion, and said that they had reached the stage when they should do something, as the land was at present idle, and not an ornament; Mr. L. A. Eady said that the adoption of the resolution was the logical thing to do. The eommision • had reported that a large, open space was necessary for traffic purposes, particularly in view of the fact that there would eventually lie the underground railway station near Wakefield Street. Delightful Vagueness. j Mr. T. Bloodworth said that there was | a delightful vagueness about the! motion. An opinion should be got from | the ratepayers as to how the site should be dealt with. The speaker traversed at considerable length the history of the site. He said that the council had called in experts, but the councillors had (become super-experts. (Laughter.) "Give the ratepayers a chance," he added. ■ "They haven't asked for it," said Mr. M. J. Coyle. Mr. Bloodworth: Then I will ask for it as a representative of the ratepayers. This matter should go to the ratepayers to express an opinion one way or the other. Mr. Coyle said that the council did not ask for the opinion of the ratepayers before they pulled the buildings down. Personally he had always voted against the scheme. If the council could not carry a proposal when it was unanimous, what could they do now? It was too large a thing at the present time. A Councillor: Don't be a pessimist? Mr. Coyle: I am in favour of a civic Gquare, and I believe that it will come. Mr. S. I. Crookes said that one of the principles of town planning had been violated when it was proposed to run Queen Street through the square. He moved as an amendment that the 6ite known as a civic square should be leased or sold for commercial purposes, and that the moneys derived should be earmarked for a civic centre, in and adjoining Princes Street, and on adjoining city leaseholds.

Arranging the Finance. Mr. Crookes said that he intended to later move as a consequential motion, which would refer to the necessity of a new art gallery. He would then suggest a loan of £200,000 to cover the first portion of the art gallery, and the acquisition of such leaseholds, in or near Prince's Street, that would be necessary. The whole thing was tied up with the Art Gallery. The present market site was valued at £400,000, and five per cent revenue would realise £20,000 anually. This, plus other moneys available, would pay the interest and provide the money to develop a building in keeping with the dignity of Auckland. He wanted to see a civic centre without cost to the ratepayers. Mr. A. J. Entrican said that there was no mandate from the ratepayers to provide a civic square. The question before the council was whether to commercialise the land, or refer the matter to the ratepayers. If the council had not taken the buses out of Queen Street before the last poll the proposal would have been carried. A Councillor: Then we "missed the bus." Mr. J. W. Hardley said that as the council was divided the ratepayers should decide. Mr. L. A. Eady said that it was a case of conducting a decent execution, and it was a question for either the council or the ratepayers. It was the council's duty to give a lead. Need of a Decision. The Mayor: If we don't decide something to-night where will we be? What proposition can we put before the ratepayers when we are divided? Personally, 1 have made up my mind to support the resolution. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. A. Warnock said that if the .matter were placed before the ratepayers there would be just as big a, iiasco as there was two years ago. He suggested that the word "leasehold" should be used in the motion so that the land could never be alienated. Mr. C. F. Bennett said that it would mean a flat lease of 30 or 50 years. A. Glasgow lease would alienate the property He hoped that the civic centre ■would not be shelved for 50 years. In any case a civic centre should*have aesthetic surroundings. The present point was whether to keep the site idle or to utilise it. The amendment by Mr. Crookes was ■lost on the voices. Speaking in reply, Mr. Allum said that the motion was purposely wide—wide as the heavens, and not vague. The council should get a report from the officers, and the work could be quicklv proceeded with. Defeat of the Motion. The motion was slightly amended and presented in the following form: That the old market site be leased for commercial purposes, a sufficient area to be leased for traffic purposes." The division list was:—For the motion: Miss Melville, Messrs. Coyle, M. J. Bennett, Allum, Brownlee, Eadyi C'. F. Bennett, Court, Warnock and the Mayor. Against the motion: Messrs. Kntrican. Donald, Phelan, Thompson. Paterson, Hardley, Crookes, Dempsey. Bloodworth, Brinsden, Robertson, Knight. Mr. A. Thompson next moved: "That t the scheme recommended by the com-L-misaioners be submitted to the ratea Poll to be held on April 27, p*«VaiO:date of the- municipal, election.

"That, as the only way to secure an expression of opinion from the ratepayers is to ask their sanction to a loan, they be asked to vote for a loan sufficient to erect the first portion of the art gallery, and that the portion of the civic square recommended by the commission for commercial purposes be offered for lease on such terms and conditions as the council may determine, and the development of the remainder for the more efficient handling of traffic De immediately proceeded with." Mr. Thompson said that the ratepayers had .not had an opportunity to express an opinion on the scheme suggested by the commission. Mr. Bloodworth moved as an amendment to insert after the words, "art gallery," the words: "And the ratepayers shall have placed before them as a separate issue a proposal that the necessary land and buildings for a town hall annexe should be acquired." Both amendment and motion were in turn defeated.

Further Motions. Miss Melville moved: "That in view of the urgent, need of a new art gallery the council consider the acquisition of a suitable site in or near Symonds Street." After the motion had been defeated, Mr. Allum gave notice to move at the next meeting that scheme J, prepared by the city engineer for the treatment of the old market site, and adopted by the council on December 16, 1920, but providing for an open space instead of an administrative building, be adopted, and that the area provided for commercial purposes be offered for lease on such terms, and conditions as the council may determine.

Mr. <T. B. Paterson gave notice to move that the portion of the civic square, as recommended by the commission for use for commercial purposes, be offered forthwith for lease on terms and conditions to be arranged by the council.