TRAFFIC CENTRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 14

TRAFFIC CENTRE

PREPARATION OF PLAN

EXTENSION, CONTEMPLATED

EXPERT ADVISER ENGAGED

The nnnsual spectacle of the Labour members of the Auckland City Council being divided among themselves was seen at the meeting of the council last night, when a discussion on a subcommittee decision ended in a division being called for on an amendment which was defeated bv 12 votes to 6, three of the latter being Labour votes. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, had submitted a short report on a meeting of the special sub-committee set up to deal witii the matter of tho proposed Municipal Transport Centre. Mr. Davis mentioned that he had brought before the sub-committee an offer by Mr. K W. Aimer to act as consultant to the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, in tho preparation of a scheme of transport terminal facilities. The sub-committee recommended that Mr. Aimer's offer bo accepted and that he be engaged at a fee of £2OO. This engagement was subject to the council's confirmation. Parking Building in View During the subsequent discussion the Mayor revealed that the sub-committee had under contemplation the erection of a large parking building on the site wiiich would be designed to relie\e the parking congestion in the lower end of Queen Street. A motic/i for the adoption of the Mavor's report was before the meeting when the Hon. T. Bloodworth moved that the report be referred back to the sub-committee, as he objected to an appointment being made without other architects with equal qualifications haying an opportunity of offering their services. This was seconded by Miss E Melville. The Mayor said that Mr. Aimer had specialised in the kind of layout and building which were contemplated. The scheme was going to be something bigger than they had at first thought and the prohlem was full of difficulties. In answer to suggestions that the city engineer and his staff should be able to do (ill- the engineering and architectural work in connection with the terminal, the Mayor said that.it was not proposed that Mr. Aimer should prepare the plans, but act in an advisory "capacity. He said the matter had "been left to the sub-committee, ■which had gone very thoroughly into it, and before anything was done the full scheme would be submitted to the council for approval. Possible Development

The scheme would probably run into a considerable sum, continued the Mayor. It had not been proposed at first to put up parking buildings, but it was now possible that in addition to the buildings necessary for the traffic, terminal they would suggest a parking - building that would accommodate a very large number of cars. Ho also rrtentioned that it was necessary to get on with the proposals as the rental of the site acquired from the Railways Board would commence on April 1 of this year and the rental would amount to £240 a month. ' Finally, when the amendment was put to the meeting a division was called for, and the -voting was:—For the amendment: Miss Melville, Messrs. T. Blood-worth, E. J.-Phelan, J. L. Coakley, J. Sayegh and H. P. Burton. Against the amendment: The Mayor and Messrs. X- V. Douglas, G. G. Grant, J. T.. Jennings, F. E. Lark, J. A. Mason, C. Bailey, A. Rosser, E. F. Andrews, J. S. Stewart, B. Martin jtnd Sir George Richardson. The motion was then put and was carried on the voices. -

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS AUCKLAND REMIT REJECTED OBJECTION BY COUNCIL . The remit proposing that members of councils should receive allowances for services given, which was forwarded to the Municipal Association by the Auckland Citv Council last November for inclusion in the order paper for the forthcoining Municipal Conference, has been rejected by the executive of the associaIn a communication received by the council last night, the secretary of the 51 unicipal Association said that this r,emit had not been included in the order paper for the copference as his executive vras of the opinion that such payments would be wrong in principle. It was considered that the honoraria payable to mayors were not payments as rewards for'serrices, but were solely for the purpose of reimbursing the mayors for the numerous out-of-pocket expenses which, by virtue of their office, th<?y were called upon to make. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, moved that the council express its objection to the action of the executive of the Municipal Association in striking out this and other remits submitted by the Auckland City Council and request that th'c remits be reinstated. The deputy-Mayor. Mr. B. Martin, said it was wrong that remits should be rejected by the executive and not sent forward for consideration by the delegates for. whom they were intended. This was not proper treatment for one of the largest local bodies in the Dominion. . k ' The Mayor's motion was carried.

PICTURES TOR CITY PURCHASES AUTHORISED A number of pictures for inclusion in the collection at the City Art Gallery were purchased last night by the City Council. Two pictures, recommended by the Chief Librarian arid Director. Mr. J Barr, were water-colours recently exhibited in Auckland. The picture *'Constitution Hill," which could be cured for £4 4s, was hy Mr. Vernon Brown, one of Auckland's leading artists, who was awarded first prize for landscape painting in the Group Show held by the Society of Arts. The water-colour submitted by Mr. A. R. D. Fairburn was exhibited at the last exhibition of the Society of Arts. This picture was a good example of the rr;ndem stvle of painting and was priced at £8 Bs. Mr. Barr also reported that Mr. H. W. Young, a locfll artist, offered 10 water-colours and 24 pen drawings made by him in the IS9o's for £l2. These pictures gavp interesting delineations of the city and district, which showed considerable alterations sincp the drawings were made. Last year Mr. Young S resented some of his sketches to the Id Colonists' Museum. -The recommendation of Mr. Barr that these pictures bo purchased was j idop^