COUNCIL'S PROPOSAL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 140, 16 June 1933, Page 8

COUNCIL'S PROPOSAL

CORPORATION YARD NO DECISION YET The fire station site ' question was raised again at last, night's meeting of tho City Council, but owing to tho lateness of the hour it was decided that the discussion should bo deferred until the next meeting of the finance committee, j , ■ Councillor Duncan's motion that the council should consider the advisability of abandoning the 1928 civic centre scheme was not reached. The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) said that the position had been thoroughly investigated, and he proposed that the council should offer to the Fire Board an acre of land in tho Corporation yard

for £19,700. Much had been said of the need for a road from the site to Cable Street. lie did not consider that a full thoroughfare was necessary, for adequate access could be given for the firo engines by a 30-foot way with a 15ft paved strip. Tho access way and fencing could bo provided for £.1200. It would be necessary to remove part of the Corporation garage from the route of the track, and the total cost of access and garago alterations would be £3592. BETTER PROPOSITION. He considered the Corporation yard site fully as good as the Clyde Quay School site, and safer from the traffic point of view. It was a question whether the access way.was necessary, as 60-foot splays could bo given at tho corners of Herd, Chaffers, and Cable Streets at a cost of approximately £500. He proposed that ' tho site should bo offered to the Fire Board for £19,700, the council to splay the corners,-and to undertake, if the board desired it, to put the private way through within three years, provided that the board would pay £1000 towards the cost of the way. The board would receive'the site for £20,700, as against £25,000 for the school site, and the Corporation would be about £7000 in hand. From a monetary point of view the council yard situ was a much better proposition for the council. Councillor T. Forsyth said that Harbour Board land would be affected. Mr. Hislop said he had made inquiries, and was informed that difficulties would not arise in that regard. VALUE OP PRESENT SITE. It had been suggested that if the Fire Brigade was moved from its present location the station building would stand empty, continued Mr. Hislop, but thero was not much in that, for already the Corporation site was vacant. The board was not at all likely to consider buying the present site, f6r the valuation today was £35,000. "But if they wish to continue on the present site.for a reasonable period and can. do it for a small expenditure no doubt wo would be prepared to consider it," continued Mr. Hislop. "It is for them to make that suggestion." SPECIAL MEETING NECESSARY. Councillor P. Butler suggested that as it was a burning question and the hour was late, a special meeting be called. Councillor J. Burns said the matter had been thrashed out for months and months, and he could not see. why it could not bo settled in a few minutes. • ■ Councillor M. F. .Luckie: You have got no'hope. Councillor E. Semple asked if the proposed offer bound the council. , The Mayor: Yes. • Councillor Semple: Then, if that is tho case I think we had better have a special meeting. , It has been said that the matter has been thrashed out and that there is nothing left to bo said. r think'there is a lot more to ho ■ said. There was a tremendous amount of. public interest in the question, and rather than have the council stampeded into any hurried decision he thought they should have a special meeting. There was no hurry in the matter. Councillor R. McKcen said the Mayor had given them quite a lot of fresh information, and it required consideration. It was finally decided that the discussion should bo deferred until the next meeting of tlfe finance committee. ■