NO CIVIC SQUARE ?

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 98, 28 April 1931, Page 11

NO CIVIC SQUARE ?

Mr. C. 11. Chapman, .M.P: -.(Labour candidate for City Council and Harbour Board), said last night that although there was urgent need to conserve the ratepayers', money, one very cxtrava: gant .scheme had been ■■■commenced which should be abandoned. • That was tne .proposed civijC square adjacent to the Town H; 11. lie was sure that ratepayers did not realise, what was .at stake. '. Property-of a value of £142,000, iwhich had returned between £7000 and £.10,000 annually in rent and rates, was to be pulled down. The proposal, if given effect to, would mean the sacrifice of this largo amount. He asked whether this "" was reasonable when funds were so scarce and rates so high as to- prove a burden? The scheme involved removal of the Fire Brigade station to another site at a cost of some £56,000 or £60,000. This was against the wishes of tho Firo Board. He agreed with that body that the present site was the best for central fire fighting purposes and the building could be brought up to date by the expenditure of a reasonable amount. This was not the time for expensive schemes of doubtful value which entailed the sacrifice of large amounts of revenue. '