FIRE BRIGADE SITE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 293, 6 September 1932, Page 10

FIRE BRIGADE SITE

City Council Discussion ALTERNATIVE AREA Wakefield Street Reserve NO DECISION REACHED The question of the Central Fir# Station site received further consideration by the City Council, sitting as a finance committee, last evening, when a proposal was made to lease to the Fire Board an area of 24,500 square feet facing the triangular reserve at the intersectian of Wakefield Street and Jervois Quay, for a period of 56 years at a rental to be agreed upon by the Government valuer and the city valuer. After a lengthy discussion the matter was deferred until next meeting. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said that at the last meeting of the council the question of the fire station site was discussed, and referred to a special committee. As a result of its deliberations, the committee decided to offer the Fire Board a 56 years’ lease of the triangular reserve at the intersection of Wakefield Street and Jervois Quay, at an annual rental of £2200. It was contended that the site at present occupied by the fire station would be suitable for the purposes of a library. In asking the Finance Committee to agree to the new proposal, the Mayor said it seemed to him that there was no other site belonging to the city that was at aU suitable to the board. He thought it was incumbent upon the council to have the fire station. built at the least possible cost to the city. The Fire Board had replied that the site offered or the site at present occupied would be suitable, but that definite opinions had been expressed that the present site was the preferable one. The suggested 56 years’ term met with the approval of the board, provided credit was adjusted for improvements and due allowances made between the city and board upon the expiration of the lease in 1988. Councillor W. H. Bennett seconded the motion. An Amendment. Councillor J. N. Wallace moved as an amendment that the council agree with the Fire Board’s basis of valuation. Councillor W. A. Appleton said it was obvious that the present building was no longer suitable for a central fire station, and, further, the existing building could be used while the new station was being erected. The existing site of the fire station was a splendid site for a new library, being right opposite the Town Hall and on the tramline. He also drew attention to the fact that the council had acres of land which were earning nothing, and it was high time that some of it was utilised profitably in the interests of the city. • Councillor R. McKeen said he opposed the proposal. He was not going back on the proposal of the last council to place the new library on the open space in Wakefield Street. He still hoped that one day the whole of the area would be cleared; the ideal site for the library was the one agreed upon by the last council, and he could not see what had happened to change the views of the old councillors. Councillor H. A. Huggins said they were not fighting the Fire Board, which was just as much a city amenity as the public library. There was no'reason why the new library should not be erected on the site of the present fire station. He supported the Mayor’s proposal. “Present Site the Best.” Councillor T. Forsyth said that he still thought that far and away the best site for the fire station was the present site, and now the Mayor was suggesting placing the new library on that site. What about the Education Board block, which the council had bought but had not paid for? That was at one stage to be used for library purposes by breaking through the walls. What would they do with that land ? Was that to be used -for a fresh air space? The Mayor said his recollection of that transaction was that it was to be used for the proposed administrative block. There was a chance of complete unanimity being obtained with the Fire Board, according to Councillor R. Semple, and he hoped that would be the case. He agreed with Councillor Forsyth that the present site of the fire station was the best one, and building operations could be commenced at the back. The talk of placing the library on that site was pure moonshine. The board was prepared to accept any reasonable arrangmeent that was offered, and the board wanted to play fair with the council. In ills opinion the present site (Mercer Street) was the best one for a new library. Present Library Site. “The present site of the library cannqt be beaten,” said Councillor J. Burns, who said he was a member of the libraries committee when the new scheme was proposed, and he was the only one who had objected to the proposed new site. Perhaps some day a cheaper site could be obtained for a fire station somewhere on Te Aro Flat, as there was no doubt that the bulk of the population were in that area. It seemed to Councillor Wallace that matters were becoming rather confused. The library and the fire station were two distinct issues. Councillor C. H. Chapman said the Fire Board considered the present fire station the best. The only difference, so far as he could see, was the matter of rent. If they could get down to es» sentials as regards rent the whole matter could be cleared up. Councillor F. Meadowcroft moved as an amendment that the present site be offered to the board for a term of 56 years at a rental to be agreed upon by the Government and city valuer. Councillor McEldowney seconded the amendment. In the event of that offer being rejected, the Mayor said that he would move as a further amendment that the other site be offered to the board. Councillor W. H. Bennett said he was opposed to the present site being handed over to the Fire Board on any terms whatsoever. He had supported the Mayor’s proposal, as it placed the fire station elsewhere. After further discussion the question was ‘deferred until next meeting.