CLOSELY PACKED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 October 1922, Page 4

CLOSELY PACKED

NOT APPLES, BUT HUMAN BEINGS A. AND P. COMMITTEE MEETINGS A MENACE TO HEALTH To leave the close, clammy, almost unbearable Bengalheat at a well-attended meeting of the A. and P. General Committee, in the little, narrow room at the rear of the Biehmoiid Fire Brigade Station (not a very imposing-looking building, lock/stock and barrel) and to see the Richmond Borough Council Cliamber's" across the road unoccupied and in darkness, is 'to wonder why such things occur, especially considering that quite a fair proportion of those huddled m the little haversae of a place (so far as the A. and. P. Committee is concerned) across the road, are part-proprie-tors of the well-ventilated borough buildings.

Members spout, some time discussing tins inadequacy of the antechamber on Saturday evening, and all were agreed that the present conditions must end. Mr W. 11. May asked if the secretary had beeen able to find another, building.

The secretary said he had made, several inquiries, but. could not obtain a suitable place Mr May: I hope (he matter will not be allowed to rest there. Mr Fairey: I would like you to see the chair I'm sitting on. (Laughter.) It is not a fair thing to bold the meetings in a room like this. Mr May : We should press the matter It is the only right and proper thing to do. If a deputation came. where would we put them? The chairman: On the table. , Mr Fairey: We are like bees coming out of a hive. We are livihg" in a, hygienic age, and we should be ashamed ,to collect like this. Mr Croucher said much as be < was in favour of Mr May's remarks! the' proposal had come on them towards the end of their working, year. "We are very closely phekedy and I regret the step was not taken earlier." The meet- /I ing-place bad got to be handy to the secretary's office, and this had a good cleal to do with the meetings being conducted there. He would not oppose Mr May's idea, but there would be a little difficulty at present. ' ' ! ■ The chairman said these were very sensible remarks, but the position was one of "finance.

Mr Fairey: It is up to us to get a better place. We are turning the corner. Bill Massey' is coming through the country singing Hello, Prosperity! We should have a place for photographs of pastpresident* and officials who have outlived their usefulness, and also for photographs of our stock. Meeting ]ik» this* is a disgrace •to us. I tell you I would like to smoke, but it isn't fair." The chairman said all must -admit the iustice of the complaints that had been made. Tt was true the-conditions were insanitary and unhealthy, or any names they liked Id call them. But their" finances were low, and they. had,, to carry on.> Some ; of them had been looking into the matter of shifting a building on the show crounds to a, suitable, rdare rearer the gate. But there'were certain difficulties in the way of 'immediate action. Mr Fairey: What will "the Municipal Chambers cost? The Secretary; They will ir.t'Jet the buildins: ■

Mr Mav: It has been Jet for any number of things: The chairman said the arrangement- so far as the Borough Chambers vers.concerned' was that any bbdy could Isold its annual meetings there., but it us not' let»for month Iv or weekly meetings.'Mr J#av: Why?' The Chairman: >,I am not prepared to .state the reasons. Mr Hunt.: The position is that the Council did 7iot wont, to compete apdnst other public buildings. Mr Georcre Best: If we ! old the next two meetings here we can get the building at the showgrounds along for next vear. The Chairman: It will be a useful buildine all round. Mr W. S. Rnodgrass moved that the Grounds Committee go Into the-i'fatter, of shifting the building on'the sJ'owgiound, and report to the r »xt- r.eeting of the 1 commmittee. _ ■ i 'The'motion' was carried unanimously.