OLD FIRE STATION

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19669, 12 July 1929, Page 2

OLD FIRE STATION

j USE FOR PLUNKET SOCIETY j MAYOR STATES HIS VIEWS. ! Some references to tie proposal to | use the 0 M Fire Station in Chester street aa headquarters for the Christchurch Branch of the Plunket Society were made by the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) last, evening at its annual meeting. .... The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the an'nual report, that .in every branch there had been an increase in the work done One of the problems before the Central Committee was that ot finding headquarters for the work The present ones were altogether inadequate. He hoped that bv this time nest year the bocicty would have as headquarters a building commensurate with its needs an worthy of its great work. As they knew, an attempt was being made to secure for them the old inre Ration in Chester street. "Personally, ga>d the Mayor, "I am very anxious that von should get it. There is a great deal opposition to the proposal, but there is alwavs opposition to every proposal." The fact that there was opposition should make them more energetic and determined, and he could not .see how any bodv of men could resist them if they were determined. Some people were talking as if they were proposing to build a structure on a Citv reserve. Anybody who was not blind or prejudiced knew that this was not so. If a proposition of that kind was advanced, it would not have a chance of success. Tho building was already there, and it would be the height of foolishness, from the economic point of view, if the building there was not used. It was full of damp and mould and rats and mice, and some people thought that because of this it would not be suitable, but lie sur«i the rats and mice would soon get out when they got m —probably before ihey got m. "This building can be turned from an eyesore into an ornament," claimed the Mayor. "Of all the situations in *he City we could not get one more favourable. With it-s green svrard and trees it would be a very beautiful resting place for the mothers and children I shall do my utmost to see that von get it." He hoped that when the matter was being '•onsidered by a Parliamentary Committee. as it would be considered, they would send up to Wellington a very ;-irong deputation 'o state their case. The president, Mrs -J. Cracroft Wilson, said the Citv Council had pro moted a Bill which would allow them to have the use of the Fire Station "We have not obtained the Fire Station yet," she said, "but I should like to thank the City Council for promoting the Bill. It will be a great step in our favour when it eoes forward to Wellington. Out opponents are leaving no atone unturned to prevent 't« passage .Evidenv<e will be called, and I Relieve Mrs Wood 'secretary) is goine to Wellington—l hear her business is entirely of a private nature. Whether we get -,he Fire Station or t:ct, we must have some other rooms. Our work is too restricted by our present accommodation When we get the old Fire Station —if "ive do get it—it will be a verv different place from the ratinfested structure it is now." A hearty vote of thanks to the City Conncii for promoting the Bill was carried unanimonslv.