THE DOMAIN EXCHANGE BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12408, 22 October 1903, Page 5

THE DOMAIN EXCHANGE BILL.

THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM.

OPPOSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

At the special meeting of the City Council yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (the Hon. E. Mitchelson) referred to the suggestion made by Mr. A. Kidd, M.H.R., who is in charge of. the. Domain Exchange Bill, that ft poll of the citizens of Auckland should bo taken on the subject. The Mayor' read telegrams which had passed on the subject last week between himself and Messrs. Kidd and Bollard, M.H.R.'s, and Mr. J. McLeod (a member of the Council, lately visiting Wellington). He said he had replied that he would hare no opportunity of consulting the Coun- j cil before the meeting yesterday. It seemed to him that if such a clause were inserted in the Bill the poll should include not only the city, but also the suburban boroughs and local bodies' districts, as the Domain hart been tested in the City Council for the benefit of the residents of all these districts as well as of the city. It would be very unfair if only the citizens of Auckland were invited to vote on the question. He invited the opinion of the councillors present. \ Mr. S. C. Brown endorsed the Mayor's opinion, and said that the poll, if possible, should embrace the whole of the hospital and charitable aid area. The City Council was liable for only about one-half of the cost of the proposed new infectious diseases hospital, and therefore the country districts contributing the other half, including such districts as Avondale and Birkenhead, had •a right to a say in the matter. The town clerk (Mr. H. W. Wilson) said that in all 52 local bodies were interested. Mr. A. J. Entrican thought the Council should oppose the poll being taken. The referendum system, as shown by the Sunday trams poll, was a very unsatisfactory way oi settling questions of this kind. The question of which roll should be used would also give rise to difficulty, and to take a poll over the whole of the districts, as suggested, would probably cost £2000. It would not be fair to take a poll of ratepayers only, as the Domain belonged to the whole of the people, but in any case the poll would be most unsatisfactory. Mr. L. J. Bagnall agreed that it would be a mistake to insert such a clause as suggested in the Bill, but if a poll were taken it should be on the basis of the Parliamentary roll within the City, Parnell, Grey Lynn, and Eden electoral districts. That, of course, would mean a great deal of expense. Mr. W. E. Hutchison: What would it cost ?

Mr. Bagnall: Probably £400 or £500, or say, £100 for each district. The Mayor, reading from the Domain Vesting Act of 1893, showed that the Domain was vested in the Council for the benefit of the citizens and the public generally. The following motion, proposed by the Mayor, was then carried unanimously: — " That this Council is not agreeable to the suggested amendment in the Empowering Bill in the direction of a poll being taken; but that if a clause be inserted in the Bill authorising a poll, such poll should be taken throughout the whole hospital district, as the Domain is vested in the City Council for the benefit of the people throughout the district; and that copies of this resolution be forwarded to each member representing constituencies within the hospital area." The councillors present at the meeting were Messrs. F. Court, W. E. Hutchison, S. C. Brown, A. J. Entrican, L. J. Bagnall, M. Casey, and G. Knigbt. DISCUSSION BY THE TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

EMPHATIC PROTEST AGAINST THE EXCHANGE.

At the meeting of the Trades and Labour! Council last night, Mr. .irwin introduced the question of the Domain exchange of sites, and asked the council to give an expression of opinion. Mr. A. Rosse-r moved, "That this council hereby protests most strongly against any alienation of our pubiic Domain for any purpose whatever, and particularly with reference to ■ the exchange of ground ■ proposed by the Auckland City Council." Mr. Rosssr spoke at some length in support of the motion, and referred to a number of alienations of the parks and domains of Auckland that had taken place. He trusted that the Council would be unanimous on the ruestion. Mr. Way seconded the motion, and condemned the exchange in a short, vigorous speech. Mr. K. Boyd moved as an amendment, "That the City Council be encouraged to obtain the exchange." In speaking to the amendment, Mr. Boyd stated that it would be advantageous to* the city, inasmuch as a larger ar«a was to bo given than was proposed to bo taken. He also said the great want in Auckland to-day was a level ground for recreation purposes, and this was an excellent opportunity to obtain a piece suitable for cricket and kindred games. Mr. Aggers seconded the amendment pro forma, and stated that while the fairness of the deal was right enough, the principle involved was not a good one. The taking or infringing of the Domain or any part thereof should bo resisted. Ho would vote for tho motion. Mr. Irwin, in speaking to the amendment, said that the mover had not given a valid reason in support of his amendment. He certainly had stated that the exchange would make a cricket ground at seme future date, but he questioned very much whether i a decent game of cricket could be played there, no matter what expense was under- ! taken owing to the environment being as | it was, bounded on one side by the railway, the Domain Hill on another, and a ! number of factories in Stanley-street. He j con tended that with a judicious expenditure J the hill that it was proposed to exchange j ' could bo made into a beautiful garden, un- | equalled in Auckland,. . Further, it was not j in the best interests of the city that the ! infectious diseases hospital should be I erected on the Domain. Medical opinion lin Auckland' was against it. The Health , j Department diu not altogether approve of I the hospital being erected there, and if >,«:- j pert advice was worth anything the Council should carry the motion unanimously.; I Several other delegates spoke at length | in favour of the motion. , Mr. A. Kosser, in reply, stated that the I question as to whether the sick would be ! benefited or not by the proposal was an- ; swered by the medical profession stating i that they would not, inasmuch as life sick . i and convalescent in the general hospital ; would run the risk of catching the infection I whatever it might be. . i On the amendment being put, two votes , ! were recorded in favour and 50 against. \ i The motion was carried unanimously. ■ [BY TELEGE.Vmi.— OOHaSSPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. ; The City of Auckland Empowering and ■ Reserves Exchange Bill was reported to the j House to-day, as amended by the Local Bids ! I Committee.