LEITH CANAL

Evening Star, Issue 19856, 3 May 1928, Page 11

LEITH CANAL

HARBOUR BOARD CRITICISM CITY COUNCIL RESENTS IT Criticism of tiie City Council in regard to the Leith Canal by the HarbourBoard was resented at last night’s meeting oi tho City Council, at which Cr Wilson, chairman of the Works Committee, strongly denied that tho council was in any way retarding the work of raising the wall. The matter was brought up by Cr Mitchell, who said that at the previous night’s meeting of the Harbour Board a direct charge was laid against the council of holding up the work on the Leith Canal, and ho desired the chairman to make a reply on the matter. Cr Begg said that he had followed the' activities in connection with the Leith Canal from the early stages to the present, and for a member of the Harbour Board to assert that the council was holding up the work was contrary to fact, and ho wished to give it a public denial. As far as the council’s dealings with tho Harbour Board and those in that area wo;e concerned, the council had been fair and above board, and tho works department was quite prepared to carry out its obligations. Cr Wilson said that it should be made clear that so tar as the council was concerned it had not in any way slopped the raising of the wall in the Leith Canal. The discussion at the Harbour Board meeting was not in any way fair to the council. The board had been told that it could proceed wilu the erection ot tho wall immediately it made arrangements with the property owners. So tar as the area above Forth street was concerned, the City Conned, would certainly raise tho wall when it was necessary to do so. To make assertions that the council was in any way retarding the work was contrary to truth. Cr Munro: “A statement was made that the City Council was holding tho board responsible for any damage caused by the raising of tho wall.” Cr Wilson replied that ;ho council held the board responsible for any Hooding below Forth street. Cr Campbell: “ If we raise the wall below Forth street ” A Councillor: “Who’s we?” Cr Campbell: “1 beg your pardon; 1. mean tho Harbour Board.” Tho raising of the wall below Forth street bridge would hold up the Hood waters. Cr Wilson said that the wall above Forth street was a. matter for tho City Council. If there were any ■ flooding there it was a matter for the < ouncil. _ Several councillors commenced to talk simultaneously, which drew from Cr Scott the remark; “ 1 move we all talk at once.” Cr Mitchell said his question had not been answered yet. Cr Wilson: “The council is not holding up the work, and if there is any hitch between tho solicitors we arc not aware of it.”