A RICCARTON COMPLAINT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21966, 15 December 1936, Page 12

A RICCARTON COMPLAINT

.♦ —• youths of nocturnal HABITS BOROUGH COUNCIL’S DISCUSSION Some observations only half serious were provoked at the Riccarton Borough Council table last evening, when the council’s attention was drawn to disturbances caused by young men at night on Riccarton road, near Mandeville street. The complaint came from St James’ Anglican parish, which was represented at the council meeting by a deputation headed by the Rev. R. de Lambert. , „ Mr de Lambert proposed, repeating a former request, that the council should place a light on Riccarton road near the west gate of St. James Church, to prevent the "congregating of youths who continued their activities well on into the morning. He suggested as a form of “quid pro quo that the parish might give the borough a piece of land on the Mandeville street corner, which might be useful in widening the corner. “What about the St. James palish. asked the Mayor (Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P.) after the deputation had withdrawn and the council had come to n The U Town'Clerk (Mr R. Sarjeant) said that there was actually a light m the corner. If the fence along - church property were cut the spot would be better lighted. , Cr F. S. Wilding appealed humoiously to Cr. F. George “As the arbiter of Riccarton morals, is it ncccs<=ary to put a light there? he asked. “I could not quite follow the deputation. He seemed .to suggest that thei e was a hotbed of immoxality. Cr. R- G. Molcolmson asked it the rounding off of the corner would be of anv benefit. . , “What about referring it to the works committee?” said the kfeyoi. The suggestion was considcied a “good idea,” and was followed Mr de Lambert’s account uas that the church corner, because it was dark and well sheltered, harboured youths, some of whom came from the Hams, who caused annoyance to many People. He stated that the parish represented from 600 to 700 residents of the box ough and that it would be in the inIc c ts of the borough if the nuisance were dealt with. Replying to Mr Kyle, he said that though he had never to call the police, he had often been provoked sufficiently to do so.