PUBLIC PROTEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21549, 31 October 1944, Page 2

PUBLIC PROTEST

DRILL HALL STORAGE COMMANDEER FOR WOOL *V'. v ' CABINET AID INVOKED Keenly critical reaction on the part of the public of Gisborne to the commandeer of the drill hall for woolstorage purposes found its first expression yesterday afternoon in a deputation to the Mayor. Mr. N. H. Bull, who was asked to make representations to the Government against the use of the hall in this manner save as a last resort. The deputation consisted of representatives of the Gisborne Returned Services’ Association, the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, the Thirty Thousand Club, the East Coast Provincial Patriotic Council, the Red Cross Society, and the Boy Scout Association, and it was stated that these bodies were only a few of those for whom the drill hall provided the only practicable venue for large functions. After the commandeer had been discussed from several points of view, the deputation gave its full support to the following message, drafted by the Mayor for transmission to the Prime Minister, and to the Ministers of Defence. Agriculture rrrt Internal Affairs, and to which Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., consulted by telephone, gave his full support:—

Sequel to Official Visit “A deputation comprising representatives of the R.S.A.. Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scout Association, Thirty Thousand Club. Red Cross Society, Provincial Patriotic Council and Gisborne Borough Council interviewed me to-day expressing their concern at action in commandeering the drill hall for wool storage. This is the only hall suitable for large public functions, and was expected this year to greatly assist patriotic fund efforts and other causes. Whilst realising the gravity of the storageproblem, it is strongly urged that the drill hall, which we are informed will only relieve the position to the extent of 2000 bales, should be excluded or only used as a last resort. When Ihe facts are known, I feel that the public of Gisborne and all organisations would greatly appreciate the exclusion of this asset, in which the public of Gisborne have a large interest." The deputation comprised Messrs. A. Blackburn, A. H. Miller, J. Chrisp. W. E. Mcllwaine, L. Miles and M. J. White, 'and Mr. Blackburn briefly put the case to the Mayor, stating that all those present and those associated with them realised that the position regarding wool storage was extremely difficult.‘but that they felt that the drill hall should not be encroached upon until all other possible storage places had been exploited to the full.

Mr. Bull stated that he had had the opportunity last week to discuss the local storage position with a party comprising Messrs C. S. Trotter and C. E. Holmes, president and vicepresident respectively of the _ New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association, and Mr. G. 11. Allen, of the Marketing Division, and he had stressed the point’ made by ’ the deputation, viz., that the drill hall was the only large public hall available in the town, and that it should be left to the very Inst, after all other avenues of alternative storage had been fully explored. In view of .the way his representation’s had been received, he had been much, surprised, added Mr. Bull, to find that wool had been transferred to {he hall so quickly. It had indeed caused him much concern. Available Storage Inadequate

In the course of further, discussion, it was stated bv Mr. M. J. While that the drill hall would take 2000 bales, undumped and,.that according to his information the position in Gisborne demanded urgent action. He was informed that if all the space now under consideration; including the Waipaoa works, the aerodrome hangars, the Poho-o-Rawiri hall, the showgrounds buildings, and the storage space of the Amalgamated Transport " Company were filled, there would still be a surplus of a few thousand bales to dispose of.

• Mr. Miles explained that the capacity of a building for wool storage depended mainly upon the weight the flooring would stand. For this reason several spaces referred to had had to be abandoned. The wool to go into the drill hall would be undumped, and was the only wool to be so treated. He understood good care was being taken to protect the floor from superficial damage or from structural injury owing to the weight. He understood that this wool would be the first to come out of alternative storage.

Touching on the effect of the clearance of the commercial wool stores, Mr. White remarked that the main thing ; to consider was helping the farmers of the district. The stores had to be cleared sufficiently to carry on with appraisals, and not to risk having to send the wool elsewhere for appraisal. Valuable Public Amenity Lost

In reply to the Mayor, who pointed out that in any case there seemed to be a certainly of a few thousand bales of surplus Wool to deal with, Mr, Miles said that some relief might be had through overseas shipments. That was uncertain, of course. The brokers were obliged to look forward to the 1945-46 season, once they arranged to get this season’s clip appraised. , Mr. Bull commented that although everyone recognised the position was serious, it seemed regrettable that the public should be denied the use of a very valuable amenity simply to reduce the surplus by a mere 2000 bales. He asked if the possibilities of the Park domain grandstand, for instance, had been fully examined, and offered the co-operation of the council in every possible way. Mr. Miles said that only part of the grandstand had been inspected during the recent survey, and he later reported that arrangements had now been made to investigate it thoroughly. “It seems that the 2000 bales we could house in the drill hall is a mere bagatelle compared with the wool for which alternative storage is to be found, 1 ' said Mr. Bull. It was unfortunate if for this slight easement of the problem the public should lose the use of the drill hall. Mr. Miles: Every 1000 bales—every 500 -bales—counts in the present emergency, , . It was stated that the use ot buildings at the showgrounds was under consideration, but that a considerable amount of preparation would have to be done there to make tire buildings suitable. A suggestion was made that there might be opposition to the use of the showground buildings in this way. since the storage of wool might continue to be a problem for a year or two, and the buildings would be needed for the 1945 show. On this point a counter-suggestion was made that the farmers represented on the Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association would probablv welcome the use of the showgrounds facilities, since that would interfere’ with only one major function in the year, as against the large number oi functions which would be affected if the drill hall were used.