SITE NOT DECIDED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 55, 8 March 1929, Page 11

SITE NOT DECIDED

DISCUSSION BY BOARD

POSITION TO DATE

The question of the site for llio new Central Fire Station was discussed by the Firo Board to-day. Mr. 11. D. Ltonnett, reviewing tho position for the benefit of the new chairman (Mr. M. W. Nelson) said that the relative Act gave the board the right to take the present property, but it also gave tho City Council the right to object if it Tequired the property for public purposes. Tho board gave notice that it wanted the property, and the City Council gave notice- that it wished to retain it. .That caused a dispute, which the Act required should be referred to arbitration. The board had decided to exploit every possible avenue before going to arbitration. It was a subject ou which the board had had divided opinions. The late chairman was keen on forcing the matter to arbitration, but some of the members had thought it unwise to press the matter in that way, as if negotiations were quietly made a bettor result might be achieved. The board asked the City Council what other sites it could oiler, and two or three different sites were mentioned, one of them being that where the boating clubs were. Another was by the Technical School in Mercer street, andt. still another, which was out of the question,-iu Taianaki street. The board investigated the position with regard to theE! sites, and obtained a plan of the boating club site, which showed that even if the board had the whole of it it would be barely large enough for its purposes, having an eye to the future. The City Council was not able to offer tho site without a restriction, however, because it was a site held on a certain title which made some provision by which the Star Boating Club appeared to have possession for an indefinite period. That proscription had never been removed. It seemed clear that unless the Government came in and freed the site from this restriction it was of no use to the board. The board had approached the rowing authorities, who said they did not wish to bo removed from the site, but they wore willing for both to be there. They did not want to push the fire Board out. That brought. the position up to date. There did not seem much chance of getting tho boating people removed. Judging by tho dilapidated nature of the buildings, however, they themselves might become defunct. It appeared as though tho matter would have to be referred to arbitration.

Mr. M. Marks said it was news to him that the City Council wero obliged to give a ronewal of a lease which expired next year to the boating club.

Mr. Bennett said that ho had not said that.

Mr. Marks said he had understood htm to say that the City Council had no ,power to tako that site, but that according to his information they had when the lease expired. Of all the sites ■suggested there was only oiro that appeared suitable, the one mentioned, but lhat was really a smaller area than the ono on which they were now. The' boating clubs would require as much room as'they had now. The City Council said that there was room there for all, but ho had inspected the site and had come to the conclusion that not only was there not room there for all, but the board would want the whole of it for the Fire Brigado alone. If either the rowing, clubs or the brigado could use 1 he.,tpjjj.floors, there, might-be room, .but .I.iqlh jvantcd the ground floors. What lie wanted to know was had the council power to refuse the clubs a lease on the ground that it, was too valuable for the purpose for which it was used?

Mr.,Bennett said that it was a piece of land set aside.by. the Government. He thought that it was vested in the i:oun«il for4he purpose of giving facilities to the rowing people. The' tag seemed to be on it. Perhaps the change of Government might make.some difference in the outlook, but in his Opinion the council dare not push the rowers oft".

Mr. S. S. Dean: "Is it desirable that it should push them off 1?"

Mr. Parton said that they were given the site many years ago, when the reclamation was made.

Mr. Marks: "They will havo to shift ia time. It is a most unsuitable place for them. I cannot understand why they can abide the place." The chairman (Mr. M. W. Nelson) said that ho believed other offers were to be made by the City Council, and the matter was deferred until next meeting-.