BOROUGH RIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 9

BOROUGH RIGHTS

Sir,—Recently some 150 citizens of Upper Hutt Borough attended a public meeting called primarily to obtain an expression of opinion from the residents regarding a proposed home for delinquent girls, with a commercial laundry attached, to be established on a site of 25 acres right in the heart of the borough. In view of the overwhelming majority of opinion being against the project (a'report of the meeting appeared in your columns on April 21), I, as chairman of the meeting, felt that the matter should be followed up not merely from tbhe parochial viewpoint, but as one of principle, likely to interest local bodies elsewhere.

The facts brought out at the meeting are as follows:—

(1) The first public intimation of the project was made in a Press report on March 21. Therein it was stated that the site had already been . acquired and the planting of boundary trees commenced.

(2) At the public meeting, at which the Mayor and some councillors were present, the question was asked if the council had given approval to or had even received an application from the organisation to proceed with their project. The answer was no.-

(3) Prior to the meeting, reports were current in the borough that any action by the residents would be ineffective because "tbhe project had already received Ministerial approval." (4) At the meeting the Mayor stated emphatically that no matter what residents of the borough thought or even what the council as a whole decided when any application was brought be„fore it, the plan would be, proceeded wijh. He also gave warning that a funher institution was likely to be established within the borough, but gave no details regarding it. The residents, I feel, would welcome a denial of the statement that some Ministerial or other Government approval had already been given, but failing this they, are naturally concerned at what seems to be a highhanded system which ignores the opinions not only of the residents, but, possibly, of. their elected councillors. The meeting was particularly upset at the Mayor's very emphatic statement mentioned under No. 4.

The meeting expressed nothing but; admiration for the good work performed by the society in question, but' it was felt that a more suitable site! and an even more extensive one could I probably be procured on vacant land! in the upper part of the borough or; just outside it, particularly as the Press i report had explained that similar pro-' jects in other cities were situated on very much larger properties. In conclusion might I ask whether; you are able to give an indication! whether there is any Act or regula- i tion- which gives the Government or its. Ministers power to make decisions irrespective of the feeling of a local; body or its residents on such a mat-1 ter.—l am, etc., !

R. G. BUCKLETON.

A Particular Person" suggests that only the attendants in self-service tearooms should be allowed to handle food. The correspondent writes of having seen a man with obviously dirty hands handle several sandwiches and not take them, but leave them for the next customer to pick up.