MARINE DRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 26 November 1941, Page 9

MARINE DRIVE

ELBOW-ROOM NEEDED GAOL WALL REMOVAL [ MINISTER INTERESTED •- : Suggestions for improving.. the environment of the £en,tennial ; ,Marine drive at the Waikanae Beach include the removal of .the seaward.-- portion of the Gisborne Gaol ..Avail ;a < short distance back from the drive, in order to improve the prospect pisuitable planting which, in : Time, will make the institution .less of a landmark. This proposal was put before the Minister of Justice, .the Hon. .H. G R. Mason, this morning, deputation representing . the Gisborne Thirty Thousand Club, > the vjftjibis.ter expressing interest in the idea and promising to give it favourable.consideration. He expected that There would be little .difficulty in arranging, to have the call carried back a. certain distance in order to % promote the worthy objects .of the club ,and its supporters, which he -d.escrip.ed as highly laudable. : v . Long-Range Proposal

A further suggestion, which the Minister indicated was one that could not be dealt with so easily as it involved long-range considerations, was that the Government should close the Gisborne goal and’ hand the buildings, and , land over to the municipal authorities for use in connection with the exploitation of the seaside attractions in Gisborne. It was pointed out that the gaol was no longer used to anything like its capacity, and that it would be more economical to house the occasional prisoners elsewhere than to maintain the buildings and land. Mr. J. H. Hall, who was a member of the deputation, expressed the opinion that the buildings could be made use of in connection with a warm salt-water bath project which the club had in mind. The deputation comprised Messrs. Jas. Chrisp.i J. H. ( Hall, .W. E. Mcllwaine, and A. J. Cox,; and was introduced to Mr. Mason by .the .district member, . Mr. D. ~W. Coleman. >, In company with 1 the, club representatives, Mr. Mason toured ..the amenities at the Waikanae Beach, 'and complimented the club warmly upon the results it had achieved.