BELT PETROL STATION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 11

BELT PETROL STATION

CLAUSE GOES BACK

A NEAT POINT

Again tho question of leasing a small ami of tho Town Belt, near the eastern portal of the Mount Victoria tun'iicl, as a situ for a petrol station came before the City Council last night, but the matter was not finalised.

The Committee, recommended in its .usual report that mo furtlier action, should be taken with, regard to the lease, but the chairman. Councillor l'\ Meadowerot't. asked that that clause should. be taken in. committee.

To . this strong, objection was taken by Councillor B. Sem pic, M.P., who said that the question was one 'of public interest, and an important principle was involved. Citizens gonerally were very much . opposed to any suggestion of- commercialisation of the Town Belt, and tho wliolb thing should be debated in'open meeting: - •:■ The Mayor, Mr. T.C.A. Hislop, said that he thought it: advisable that-a report upon the question should be taken in committee, as matters of compensation for lands which were to be taken by the council were dealt with in the report, but the discussion could then be taken in open meeting.

The council accordingly went into committee, and on resuming in open meeting the Mayor suggested that Councillor Meadowcroft should take the clause back for further consideration.

Councillor Semple- agahi raised objection, strenuously opposing certain of the points made iv the report,, and characterising one section referring to canvassing as insulting to councillors. No one had approached him in the matter, and no amount of approaching would liave made any difference to his attitude that the belt should not bo commercialised.

- The Mayor remarked that the report did not imply that councillors had been canvassed; it merely said that canvassing had taken place.

Councillor Semple said that no officer of the council had any right to make suggestions and innuendoes. He objected again to the question being referred back to the committee, for it was of general public interest, and should be dealt with by the full council. VOTE KOT IN ORDER. When tho. motion that the claiiso should be taken back was put a division was called for, and the voting was apparently even. At the moment Councillor 'E. M'KceiV—one of. the "noes"—was speaking to one of the council officers; and the Mayor remarked that as ho 'was not in his seat his' vote could not be allowed, the voting then being 8-7 in favour of\ the clause going back.

Councillor M'Koen questioned whether the: ruling was correct. Could not the question be put again? The Mayor replied that it could be put provided there was no objootion from.any councillor. '

Councillor T. Forsyth, however, objected. •

Councillor M'Eoen again questioned tho ruliDg, saying that he thought.tho position was that the voto must be allowed if a councillor was in tho chamber.' If he was in the chamber but did not vote the Mayor could compel him. to vote.

- There was much searching of standing order booklets round the table; and the Mayor announced after a discussion with the officers that though a vote from a councillor not in his seat, but in the chamber, was not in order, it was not disqualified. Therefore he would allow Councillor St'Keen^s vote, making. 8.-8, and- he .■.would..give his caste ing vpt.e in .favour of..the clause goihgbaeic for further couimiltoo consideration.