UNPOPULAR DEPOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15517, 27 January 1914, Page 8

UNPOPULAR DEPOT.

INDIGNATION IN AVONDALE.

MEETING OF 'PROTEST.

The indignation of Avondale residents at the establishment of a sanitary depot in the district for the use of surrounding boroughs was voiced last evening, when an open-air meeting of protest "was held in the Post Office Square. Fully two hundred men attended, and the remarks of the various speakers were heartily cheered. Mr. Potter, chairman of the Road Board, presided, and several Road Board members spoke. It was clearly indicated that no stone will be left unturned to secure a change. Mr. Potter expressed the opinion that it was an injustice that a site m Avondale should have been selected. He contradicted a statement to the effect that the local Road Board had given its consent to the establishment of the depot m Avondale. There was no doubt that the establishment of such a depot would greatly depreciate property in the district. Unfortunately, at the end of last session, ..power, was given to. (Health Department to establish a sanitary depot where thought fit. He stated that the Road board had done all in its power, to have , the depot abolished. He «ad a letter from the Health Department, stating that while recognising that the people of Avondale nad some grounds for complaint, the depot would only be there for a limited I time. The Department had dona its utmost to secure a site on the Manukau Harbour endowment. The letter cons' 1 fT th A* he J amarlt that « matters »v„« 4 vondale ate was the best ffß ,, '/ nd ,f e J best thin g the Avondale Board could do would be to help the Department to find another site. Dealing with the arguments contained in the letter seriatim, Mr. Potter laid stress on one argument in particular, which was to the effect that the Department conMdered it was better for a few people to be inconvenienced than that 50,000 people should suffer. His contention was that if oU,lX)0 people were suffering it would be a simple matter to carry the refuse bv tram right into the country, and he maintained that it would only cost the 50,000 people about one penny per week extra to do that. Reverting to another clause in, the Department's letter, to the effect that no amount of clamour would induce the Department to remove the depot, Mr. Potter said that remained to be seen. (Cheers.) Mr. J. Bollard, M.T., the next speaker expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large number of Avondale residents to protest against this depot. While in Wellington he discussed the matter with Swi S5 ter » md Dr - Valintine (Chief i Health Officer), and a distinct promise was given to him that Avondale should' not be made the damping-ground for other districts He felt the matter very keenly He (Mr. Bollard) stated he would do his best to get the evil remedied. He had already forwarded a letter to the Minister on the matter, and he hoped that the letter would have the effect of causing the Department to remove the depot at a verv early date. ' Continuing, Mr. Bollard said public opinion was so strong that he felt that with united action the Department would • feel compelled to discontinue using the Avondale site as a depot. Mr. Potter moved the following reso- ' lutioni :—" That this meeting requests the Avondale Road Board to draft a letter to ! the Prime Minister, strongly protesting against the establishment of the depot in Avondale. * , Mr. Curd seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A number of other speakers also addressed the meeting.