"BUTTING IN"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 118, 14 November 1925, Page 8

"BUTTING IN"

PLEA OF NOT GUILTY

THE ROUTE TO KAEOEL

"At the risk of inviting from Councillor H. D. Bennett further uncalledfor comment regarding publicity (an art in which he himself .excels, as also giving notice of motion about the carillon and other things), and the remark of Councillor W. H. Bennett that I was 'butting-in' on the work of the 1 Tramways Committee," said Councillor G. Aston, in a statement to "The Post," "I wish to clear the air a little more.

"My notice of the motion regarding Bowen street tram was handed in at the Town Clerk's office a fortnight prior to the meeting of the Tramways Committee. Not till Report No. 2 of the cominitteo was placed before mo during the course of the council meeting was I aware of the recommendation of the committee. The clauso covers the same ground as my motion, but with the most important and carefully-designed omission, no reference was made to a tram. In view of the fact that the committee's recommendation came some time after my notice of motion, it is reasonable to ask, who is the party 'butting in,' and will the committee inform us .what led up to the clause being inserted in the report at alii

"Following deputations to> and correspondence with, the Prime Minister, the lato Mr. Massey, the following appears in a letter from him, dated September, 1924:— " 'The proposal had been carefully considered, and it appeared that better results from a tramway point of view could be obtained by running up Bowen street and continuing under tho cemetery into the upper' part of Sydney street, near what is known as the cutting. This line, besides being considered the best f"om a tramway point of view, would also minimise the nuisance to those occupying Parliament Buildings. If tho council forwarded plans of this alignment showing in detail how it was proposed to minimise the noise, and if proposals were considered satisfactory, he had no doubt that an Order in Council would be issued.'

"That is over twelve months ago. Why the delay in applying for this Order in Council? The policy of drift in connection with this urgent and important undertaking was such that it was in almost sheer desperation that notice of motion was tabled in the hope that 'the council would realise the urgency of the case, and • make a definite move. When the matter was under ■ discussion, I asked the council to include the words 'tramway undertaking' in the wording of the clause 'the construction of a we,ll-graded, road from Bowen street to Tinakori jroad,! but, be it noted, this assurance was not forthcoming. The clause as pp—»/» provides for a road, and nothing mbre; the question of tram has yet to be decided. For round about eighteen years the people of Western Suburbs have had to put up with the expensive and intolerable inconvenience in connection with tram transport, that it is just about time someone 'butted, in,' and any' personal reflections of fellow-council-lors regarding 1, my .motives do not concern me. Let usget things done."