PARK FENCES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 6 September 1930, Page 14

PARK FENCES.

COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME SUGGESTED. SPECIAL COMMITTEE SET UP BY DOMAINS BOARD. To formulate a complete scheme for widening Riccarton avenue, a special committee was set up by the Domains Board, at its meeting yesterday. Tbo Parks and Gardens Committee reported that it had inspected both sides of Riccarton avenue, and after much consideration it had resolved that a special committee, consisting of Messrs Frank George, lienry Kitson, E. B. Owen, and VV. H. Winsor, be set up to formulate a complete scheme for widening lliccarton avenue, to be presented at tho Board meeting in October. Mr F. George, the chairman of the committee, in moving the adoption of this clause, said that it did not bind the Board to do anything, but it was the first step towards getting on with a proper scheme for tii« widening of the avenue.

Mr H. Kitson: It will be just as well co stress the point that wo are not going to start to-morrow with the fences.

Mr George: We are not going to start to-morrow. It may be coucrete, or it may be iron, or it may be nothing at all.

Air 11. B. Owen regretted that the matter was being further held up. The Board could make up its mind to move the fonce back; they had enough brains to sizc-up what should be done, and get the work done. They were not moving forward—they kept talking about doing things and putting them off. The job was quite a simple one, and the further they put it off, the chances of getting it done became more remote. There were hundreds of men on the verge of starvation who could be found work. He would like to see the committee given power to act. Mr H. Kitson: How much money have wo got for it? Mr Owen: There is £2OO definitely sot aside for it in the hands of the Finance Committee of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee. Some Difficulties. The chairman (Mr George Harper) said that the trouble was about getting the levels if the work were to bo put in hand quickly. Mr Owen said that the question of levels only concerned five or six chains. Let them leave the difficult parts. A Definite Objective. Mr M. E. Lyons said the matter was surely not one of providing work immediately for the unemployed, but of the proper utilisation of the park in the best interests of the people. This policy of piecemeal, of higgledy-piggledy, a little here and a little there, would get them nowhere. They should get some definite objective, and see whero they were getting, and say what they were going to do in a specified period. The committee should not bo given power to act. The Board should have a comprehensive plan, showing what was intended, and they should take the contributing bodies into their confidence, and, if necessary, ask them for more money. Mr S. A. Orchard suggested that the committee should get to work right away and submit its report to a special meeting next week.

Against Undue Haste. * ' Mr W. H. Winsor said that tho thing could not be done in a week. He doubted whether a week would be sufficient to consider a scheme he had in mind. They should not force matters too much. He, for one, would like to know what was going to be done before offering any advice. Mr George: The idea of the committee is to bring down a comprehensive scheme as mentioned by Mr Lyons, and if we bring it down in a month it will be quite enough. Mr Kitson seconded thh adoption of the clause, which was agreed to. Tho City Council wrote in favour of tho fence on Riccarton avefkue being placed behind the fourth row of trees; and the Riccarton Borough Council favoured it being placed behind the first row.

The letters were referred to the special committee.