THE COURTHOUSE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 138, 25 May 1928, Page 5

THE COURTHOUSE

MAYOR ENTERS PROTEST LAW SOCIETY'S ATTITUDE CRITICISED. DISAPPOINTMENT EXPRESSED. Reference was made to the Hastings CXiur mouse at the meeting of the Hastings Borougu Council last evening. A letter was received from the Minister of Justice (Hon. F. J. Holies ton) explaining the attitude of the Department and noting the Council’s complaints. The Mayor stated *hat Mr. Rolles, ton, on coming to inspect the Courtr house and new site, uad seen an opportunity of getting out of spending money. “He grasped at a straw ano as a means of evauing the erection of a new building he nad decided on the plan or spending £l6OO on additions to a building that nas served Hastings for 44 years,’’ said Mr. Maddison. The Mayor went on to say that at the time when the new site was mooted, the Law Society had been in favour of the scheme. There was only one dissentient. In 1923, the Government officials and Sir ..-mes Parr had agreed that the present section was not adequate roi 'he < < t>thouse and Police Station, and the Department had eventually decided to purchase a new site. This had been done. LAW SOCIETY’S ATTITUDE. /It seems peculiar to me that the Law Society should act as it has dene now,” stated the Mayor. ‘‘lt has been said that the Society unanimously adopted the present scheme, but that is not true. Two out of three I spoke to did not sign the document circulated among the members of the Society. 1 cannot understand the Law Society taking this matter lying down. It. is all very well to say that it was a case of 'take this or get nothing.’ I don't believe that to be the case. Had a uniteu protest been made we might have had a new Court-house. The Law Society is now in an unenviable position. When it wants to go to the Department of Justice with a proposal to move elsewhere there will always be thrown at their faces the fact that they agreed to remain on the old site. - SALE OF SITE ADVOCATED. “It is not fair to Hastings nor to the ratepayers that the new site should pay 'no rates. The new site much be sold so that the people may get the rates. 1 can see no reason why the ratepayers should lose because of an error of judgment on the part of the Department of Justice.

LONG-SUFFERING COMMUNITY. “It has been said that Hastings has had more than a fair share of public buildings. Hastings is a vciy long-suffering community. No private employer would have carried on under the conditions prevailing at the old Post Office. Dannevirke for years had a better Post Office. They had a High School and a Public Trust Office before Hastings did. Surely the fact of spending another £3900 on a new Courthouse is not going to break the Government. It should have been done a long time ago. It was agreed that a newbuilding be erected. Twice the money was placed on the Estimates, but nothing came of it. A UNITED EFFORT WANTED. “It annoys me to see that we have been pushed aside. All that was wanted was a united effort by the Council, Chamber of Commerce and Law Society to try to get it. I think we would have, too. This Coun* cil was always unanimous on a new Court-house, but at present it seems impossible to get any further. The Law Society has agreed to have the £l6OO spent on renovations. They should have made a final effort to get the new Courthouse.” Mr. Maddison then moved that the Government be asked to sell the section upon which the new Courthouse was to have been erected, and to pay the rates on same until sold. The motion was seconded by Cr. E. V. Simpson and carried unanimously.