NO PAIRS!

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1935, Page 14

NO PAIRS!

SYDNEY DISSENSION.

TROUBLE IN THE COUNCIL

PARTIES AT LOGGERHEADS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, February 8,

The delicately poised "balance of power" in the City Council—the Labour Aldermen and Independents having a dubious bare majority over the Reformers—has already caused trouble, and will very likely lead to much more in the near future. Last week a crisis very nearly arose over a question, which not only aroused bitter personal feeling but served to illustrate the- difficulty of getting any sort of resolution through the council as at present constituted.

The proposal before the- council was in favour of completing the widening of Park Street. As every body, who lias been in Sydney will remember, Park Street, between Castlereagh Street and Pitt Street, is contracted to very sni|ll dimensions, and the scheme is to widen out the street to the breadth that it has already attained east and west of these limits. From George Street to 1-itt Street, and from Castlereagh Street to Elizabeth Street, Park Street is a line broad highway, quite equal to the transport' requirements of this part of the city.. But the intervening portion of the street is little more than_ a '•bottle-neck," which constantly im-

pedes the city traffic and presents a continuous menace to motorists anl pedestrians alike. Of course, it lias always been intended that the roadway should be- widened to a uniform breadth throughout.

Five years ago financial arrangements were made to resume the required land, and the tenants received three years' notice. At the end of that period —as the depression, was upon us and the financial outlook was gloomy —the notice was extended for a further two years, and this period has now It might have been expected that, especially after this long delay, the city council would be anxious to take advantage of the first signs of commercial and financial recovery to complete this important scheme. But for reasons not apparent to the ordinary man, the Labour aldermen have never favoured this proposal, and last week theiropposition to it caused a bitter altercation in the council. Business Men's Deputation. A few weeks ago a deputation, of business men and property owners waited on' the Lord Mayor and presented to him a petition urging the completion of this work signed by. a large number of/lessees and tenants in this locality. Mr. J. 0. Watson, who was once Prime Minister of Australia, and is now president of thte N.R.M.A., .made a strong appeal in support of the scheme, which his association regards as of " vital importance" to the commercial expansion of Sydney, and, though the Lord Mayor naturally declined to commit himself, he assured the deputation that he would give very careful consideration to their request. Accordingly, last week a resolution was moved in the council by Alderman " Stonewall" Jackson to rescind a resolution passed on February 18 giving a further 12 months' extension of tenure from that date" to the Park Street lessees. But no public body likes to talk about rescinding motions, and Alderman Nock moved as an amendment that the council should at once proceed tp sell the land residues and the licenses of the two hotels concerned, and "in six months' time should proceed with the immediate reconstruction of the street whether the residues were eold or not."

In favour .of going on with this plan, it was pointed out that the resumptions which had been made necessary from the outset were costing the city over £360,000 a year, and the scheme could not produce the desired results till it was completed along the whole length of the street. Also, the council had been advised that the hotel properties must in any case be renovated at considerable expense or the police would refuse to renew the licenses. The resumption being, already financed, it would cost less than £8000 to straighten out the " bottle-neck," and so Alderman Jackson and his friends made out a good case for their proposal. Labour Aldermen Oppose. But the Labour aldermen, as before, strenuously opposed the scheme, apparently because they think that the municipal funds could be spent to better purpose in other directions; and Alderman Jackson, who never ■welcomes criticism or opposition, made an extremely vehement reply. He denounced the prolonged delay over this scheme as "a public indecency," and he wanted to know what was the mysterious influence behind, the . obstinate determination of the Labour aldermen that "Park Street shall not be widened." Said Alderman Jackson: . "There are associations with these hotels in Park Street that do not make very good reading. If I had authority I would institute an inquiry into the unseen forces that are delaying the widening of Park Street." This very deliberate insinuation naturally roused the Labour aldermen to wrath. I

Alderman O'Dea was on his feet in a moment, demanding that the inquiry suggested by Alderman Jackson should be set up at once. Alderman Donald Grant, who in his palmy days has nssured many a Domain andience that '"the Day of Blood ia drawing near," challenged Alderman Jackson to put down his charges in writing. "You are a mongrel and a cur," he shouted, as the suave Lord Mayor appealed in his blandest tones to the council for dignity and self-control. It was not a creditable scene, and, like many other episodes of a similar nature, it was largely Alderman Jackson's fault.

But the result of the division might prove an important matter to the Reformers, and as the debate drew to a close they cast anxious eyes along the table, and computed the possibilities. One Labour member, Alderman Farrell, was absent, but his defection was more than balanced by the absence of Alderman Hagon ami Sir Samuel Walder on the'other side.

Toward the close of . the discussion Alderman Jackson, perhaps feeling that lie had gone too far, rose to explain that he had not meant to charge the Labour aldermen with taking money for their votes. But this belated apology produced little effect, and before the division was reached it had become evident that Alderman MeElhone meant to vote with.the Labour contingent.

Alderman McElhone is one of the two Independents on the council—the other licing Lord Mayor Parker—and with the help of his vote the Labour aldermen could just equal the voting strength of the Reformers. On the other hand, if

11lie voting resulted in a "tic" the Lord I Mayor might, use his casting vote one I way or the other. He has no reason to be well disposed to the Reformers, who opposed him for the Mayoralty and expelled him from their organisation because he accepted the support of Labour.. But if lie gave a casting vote in favour of the Labour section of the council, it would mean identifying himself with the Labour party to an extent that he might find very embarrassing later on.

Eleventh. Hour Appearance. With matters in this precarious position the amendment favoured by the Reformers was put, and the town clerk was actually counting the votes when the door of the chamber opened and Sir Sam Walder appeared. The Reformers made no attempt to conceal their joy. "Hurry up! Take your seat!" they shouted in chorus, and the ex-Lord Mayor was quickly shepherded into line. Even then the motion for proceeding- at once with the enlargement of Park Street was carried by only 9 votes to 8, and though the Reformers and the Lord Mayor were thus released from an unpleasant predicament, the illfeeling engendered at this meeting did not evaporate with its close and mr// produce serious consequences before long.

I One indication of the confirmed hostility of the Labour aldermen to the Reformers was given at a Labour caucus last week, when it was resolved that "in no circumstances" would the Labour men grant "pairs" to Reform aldermen likely to be absent from the council for a considerable time. The reference was to Alderman >Tock, who is visiting America shortly, and to Sir S. Waldei, who had arranged a trip to England. It was said at the time that the Reformers would not be affected by this decision, because on general questions of public finance they could be sure of the support of the two Independents, Alderman McElhone and the Lord Mayor. Member Postpones Trip. But Sir Sam"VValder, who has had long experience of municipal warfare, evidently ie apprehensive about the future, for he has now announced that he will put off his own trip till Alderman Nock gets back from the United States, So Lady Walder and her daughter are leaving shortly for England while Sir Sam remains "on guard , ' till he is relieved by Alderman Nock. It is a quaintly "militarist" arrangement, and it suggests aptly enough the state of "armed peace"' which exists on the City Council just now.