"NOT INTERESTED."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 9

"NOT INTERESTED."

BIRKENHEAD TOWN HALL. MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR. MR. HAYWARD'S POSITION. "The Mayor of Birkenhead is jumping at conclusions when he assumes tlltt because an employee of ours is a member of the council we as a business firm are interested in the transaction." This statement was made by Mr. Phil Hayward. of the New Zealand Picture Supplies, Ltd.. this morning when he was asked to reply to the criticism of Mr. E. O. Skeates. Mayor of Birkenhead, in regard to the negotiations that had been carried out in connection with the purchase of a site for a Town Hall at (he seaside suburb. "Mr. Skeates," continued Mr. Hayward, "recounts various offers made for the land in question ranging from £3000 to .112000—the final price accepted—and then says:— " 'T agree that a councillor has the riirht to change his mind, but the question is, why has Councillor Furley changed his mind? I think the reason is not far to seek. Councillor Furley is the manager of a well-known picture theatre in the city. His employers lease the Foresters' Hall, Birkenhead, and use it for pictures. This lease is just up, or just about up, and the council received a letter at the last meeting from the secretai\ of the Foresters' Lodge stating that this proposal of the council to purchase a site for a Town Hall was upsettin"- the Foresters obtaining the signature of th<> New Zealand Picture Supplies, Limited, to a new lease.

'Is Birkennead.' continued Mr. ..keates. - to be done out of a decent Town Hall because the barn of a place owned by the Foresters is considered by them to be good enough for all time and because the lessees are afraid that the Miihling of a. good hall 111 the borough would invite opposition'; Amalgamation with either Xorthcote or the whole of the North Shore would not alter the position one iota, as Birkenhead would still be a centre requiring decent hall accommodation. Our neighbouring borough, Xorthcote, lias two exceedingly nice halls, whereas Birkenhead cannot boast of a single one suitable for all requirements.'

Imputation Resented. "We are not interested a* a business concern," said Mr. Hay ward, "whether '9f not. & n i» erected, but we

resent the imputation that because we employ Mr. Furley we are using him to our advantage as he happens to occupy a seat on the council. If such an attitude is to be taken up by chairmen of local bodies it will have a wide effect. "I will Row speak as a private ratepayer. There is only one business-like way of tackling this town hall question. That is by securing an option on a sits, and then taking a vote of the ratepayers. The attempt is being made in this in- ! stance to purchase the land without con- ! suiting the ratepayers at all. If . the ratepayers subsequently turn down the proposals, the public will be 'landed* with the £2000 for the site. Splendid Site. "If the Council Is so anxious to build a town hall they can do so on the splendid site they possess now, alongside the Council Chambers, and directly opposite the Foresters' Hall. No money would-be required for excavating as in the' case of the other site decided upon. "I may add in conclusion that the people who have reason to complain of the Council's action are the Foresters, who own the present hall, on which a year or so ago they spent £6000 iii renovations. We resent being dragged into the discussion. It is not right, fair, or just, either to us ov to Mr. Furley." The following letter (abridged) has been sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs by the Birkenhead Residents and Ratepayers' Association: — "We wish to place before you our objection to the proposed purchase by the Birkenhead Borough Council, on the grounds that the notice, as advertised, did not set out the purpose for which the purchase was to be made, and the ratepayers were therefore entirely ignorant of the council's intention in proposing to make the purchase. It is further considered that the terms do nut comply with the spirit of the Municipal Corporations' Act. The Act enable? the council to buy land on the instalment systeoi. Under the proposed purchase the payment of £7-~> was provided for, th« balance to be payable in a lump sum- A poll was recently put to the ratepayers and only one i«siie was carried, e others being decisively turned down. P e association considers that the ratepaye * should have been consulted in the preinstance by a poll. The associaUon of no public purpose to wh.ch he lan«t Tto amalgamate the boroughs of SKiai SThoote. Devon port, ~,.1 Tikapiina. The association cnnsideis that should be for noj-csary "v k o„lv. including drainage and a tire hriiid" The association think- that t lie method* of i> a„ aUc,,p, evade putting the proposal beiore the ratepayers, and would increase the burden of the district.