RORA STREET LAWN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2513, 13 December 1927, Page 5

RORA STREET LAWN.

QUESTION OF CUTTING BACK. WARM WORDS ACROSS COUNCIL TABLE. At first appearances a non-volatile subject proved to be highly explosive when ignited by the spark of opposition at last- night's meeting of the Borough Council, and resulted in some hot words being hurled across the Council table. ;i Or Smyth moved in accordance with notice of motion that 21 feet of the Rora Street lawn behind the railway station be removed. Cr Smyth said that he thought this would be an improvement as far as traffic was concerned, as this was one of the most congested parts of the town, and the suggested expedient would be especially beneficial to motorists. Cr Blackman agreed with Cr Smyth that the lawn should be removed in the general interests of public safety. Cr O'Connell, in opposing the motion, accused Cr Blackman of desiring the expedient carried out to "satisfy a whim." Cr Blackman (loudly) : I object! Cr O'Coiinell: All right; just a minute—! —- .- .■-.■' Cr Blackman: Well, cut that out! Continuing, Cr O'Connell said that he Avas not in favour of the, proposal which would mean unnecessary expense; further, the Council had not been asked by the motorists to remove the lawn. If the corners were cut off, that, in Cr O'Connell's opin-. ion, would be sufficient. Cr Boddie opposed the suggestion. Cr Hitchcock maintained that sooner or later it would mean taking a great deal more off that part of the street, which was the most congested part of the-town,. 'As a -motorist, ho would say that the green constituted a danjrfar at present. Or Blackman (hotly) : I- am prepared to resign my seat on- the votes of the ratepayers on the point as to whether Cr O'Connell's idea that the Council should contribute th© sum of £75 to the baths *proposal as against the Council's spending the money on cutting bacfe is the an ore extravagant expenditure. You a,Te not consistent, Cr O'Connell. CV O'Coiinell: I am consistent. A hot exchange of words followed between Crs Blackman and O'Connell. His Worship: Or Blackman has the floor. Cr O'Connell continued to "speak. His Worship: Sit down I Or O'Connell sat down. Cr Blackman continued that a councillor who would come to the Council table and vote against the present suggested measure on account of its expense and vote £75 of the Council's money for the baths scheme, as he had done at a previous meeting, was inconsistent. V Cr O'Connell again rose to his feet objectfully. Cr Blackman: Challenged ! Cr O'Connell: Trivial! Trivial! Cr Blackman concluded.

Cr O'Cfonnall: What I. (want to know is why eight feet, was not cut off the lawn last year Avhen a resolution was passed to that effect. Cr Blaekiman: Y/ou. were oih the Works Committee at that time; why didn't you see to it ?

Or HitchctoA (to Or O'Cbnnell) : You didn't want it cut back. Cr O'Connell: I wasn't chairman of the Works Committee. Instructions wc:<e given for the work to be done. Ycu were chairman then and have had opportunity to see that the work was carried out.

Cr Smyth said that he was firmly of the opinion that the lawn should be cut back in the interests of public safety. He did not come here to indulge in whims as referred to by Cr O'Connell.

His Worship said that he thought the matter had now been fully enough clis,cu\ssed, and pint i#ie resolution, which on a show of hands was carried by a six to two vote.