"AN UNHOLY MESS"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 109, 9 May 1924, Page 5

"AN UNHOLY MESS"

THE HUTT ROAD PLANT

A QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP.

The question as to who owns the plant which' lias been used to build.the new Hutt road led to a. lively and acrimonious discussion at the City Council meeting last evening, when the Mayor affirmed that the funds the Hutt Road Board had available had been used to purchase, the. plant, the city being unable to finance the purchase last, year, and the understanding was that the plant was-to become the property of the city when the ' road was finished, the purchase price being reducible by the amount charged to the Road Board for the loan of the plant. Councillor Forsyth opened the discussion- by expressing gratification at the commendatory remarks passed: concerning the road by people who used it,and knew what they were talking about. The only .question, that, was worrying the public now. was as to whom the plant belonged, and what was to become of it now that the: road was nearly finished. The plant was .paid for out of the Hutt Road Board funds, and, therefore, belonged' to: the -board.'; The question of disposal was one for the board. It was thought, that the council had: erected the plant'but of its funds, but the city had no funds.''The position, so far as the city was concerned, was that the city would have to take steps -to-.get another plant. They would want a plant of about the'same capacity. • Councillor Monteith : "That plant was bought for the city." . Councillor Forsyth: "That plant was bought for a specific purpose, the work on the Hult road." ■ He did not think they need worry about the Hutt road plant standing where it was. It would probably be.used by the board for other roads. They, must get their own plant to keep their promises in the city. ■"■This--'committee at^ the end of the table Is most objectionable. It seems to be mostly composed of the Investigation Committee," remarked Councillor Forsyth at this stage, . referring to a'conversation going on near .him. ■. .. ; Councillor Luckie: : "We are doing more good-with our conversation than we would by listening. to you, Councillor Forsyth." ■ - - :

Councillor W. H. Bennett: "It is quite.refresh!!!/;'"to" hear opinions of the chairman -of tlie Works Committee regarding that'plant. . Only/this evening a prominent meiriber of the 'Hutt Road Board met me.in the street and expressed the opinion that this plant-was the property of the City Council and ;no'one else. -He said: 'Otherwise, why are you charging us so much per yard under an agreement for using' it?' " > . Councillor Luckie : "Using, their plant and charging them for it.". ■" '„ ..-.■■' -'■.;''.;"anJunholx mess.I*'1 *' :' .' Councillor -Bennett:'-"When I expressed tlie'opinion that the plant was purchased out of Hutt road loan money and that it was the board's plant, and suggested/that the amount charged was for the use of the small plant—that was our plant—he said, 'Oh, no. We have a separate account for the use of that plant.'.", .. '• ' .

A member: "Very nasty." Councillor Bennett : "It appears to me that the position is an an: unholy mess." ■.The Mayor: "Oh, no. Only a mess in the-minds, offqther people." : i( Councillor Bennett.: "It has been the pohcy.:of:this,-council at many meetings ,to discuss what works - that plant' was to be used for; .whether it was to be used first, on; the. city roads.! or first on the ,Hutt:.road. As the city roaas .were not ready, the plant went to:the Hutt road Now the road is completed, and we don't know who' the plant belongs to." ; The Mayor: "Of course :we know." Councillor Luckie: "Whose is it?" -The Mayor; "It is the property of the Hutt Road Board, We had nq money ..to,pay. for the plant.. We came out at the end, of; the year with a balance of £600, and that plant would have cost £6000. The only way for us was to finance- the plant through the board." . ■•'.' ''.FUSS ABOUT NOTHING." :

Councillor Luckie: "When was it ordered '•. It was ordered before the Hutt road was thought of. We borrowed the money..from, them-to buy it." .. : .The Mayor: "I do object to all this l.uss about. ■ nothing. ■. Anyone with any responsibility: at .all must know that, we have.Jo balance our accounts, otherwise every.member, would be prosecuted, and then there would be a; fuss. Because of it we are accused of getting into an unholy mess. I am amazed at Councillor w. ±1. Kennett, a responsible business man,: speaking like' that at' all.' It is' sheer < downright; humbug "and ' nonsense —purely-talking, to the gallery." ■ Councillor Bennett': "Why are ybu; charging them for the use of the plant?" • _lhei Mayor: "That was the only way of doing it." ■' ■;-'■• ■■..■' '■ -.' ■-.-■ Councillor Luckie: "The obvious thine we have:to solve; is .whether they or we own.the ..'plant.'••■■.."■!■:.■■:. : ' ■- ■The, Mayor: "They" own'it, but we will afterwards.-' • :.

Councillor Luckie: "On your own showing we own it. We borrowed the purchase money from them." The Mayor: "They own it. What is Hie good of talking about it, and wasting time like this?"

Councillor Mitrh.ll said there was realL y 'j' 1"-"? to be heat«d about. The board might decide to keep the plant, if their jurisdiction was extended. Some decision should be reached, and, if necessary, they should move to buy another plant and buy it immediately. lhe Mayor said the board had decided to give the plant back to the city. The position on this was quite clear. lhe discussion then closed.