MIRAMAR PROPOSALS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4425, 3 August 1901, Page 4

MIRAMAR PROPOSALS.

If the ratepayers of Wellington hard any desir e to put a stop to the City Council’s project of embarking upon a wildly speculative venture, they have an opportunity of doing so now which, if taken advantage of, may save the expense and excitement of a poll at a subsequent date. The second reading of the Bill to authorise the purchase of the Miramar estate has been carried, in the House of Representatives, and the measure will probablyjje taken into committee on Thursday next. Before then, there is time to organise a mass meeting of ratepayers to protest against the Bill proceeding further, or to in* sist upon necessary amendments being made. The fact, that the motion to report progress was only defeated by the casting vcte of the Speaker is a clear indication that a large number of members have grave doubts about the propriety of allowing the BUI to pres ceed, while the remarks made in the course of debate were a direct invite* tion to the ratepayers to express an opinion on the subject. There was only a House of forty«seven when the second reading was carried, and the probability is that in a full House the motion to go into committee on the Bill would he lost. The remarks of the Minister for Public Wcvrks as to the existing contract which the measure to ratify were very weighty; and against these the member in charge of the Bill merely made general statements, which, are calculated to intensify existing sus* picions, and indulged in vague denuns ciation of certain fictitious “syndicates” who are supposed to have entered into a “vil 0 conspiracy” to prevent the poor working man getting viUa sites on Miramar. Mr Hutcheson’s further statement that £75,000 could be spent on the purchase, without entailing any addition to the rates is, only fitted to excite ridicule. There are several courses open to the ratepayers if they are public-spirited enough to take up the challenge of the House and lodge a petition against the measure being proceeded with. They may either (i) ask the Legislature to

reject the Bill altogether, as being mi kj chicvous, uncalled for and wrong in principle, or (2) ask that its scope be limited to the purpose; named in ;ts title, vis., the acquisition of a. recreation ground, or di) insist upon the clause being struck out that miens to the provisional agreement ’improperly entered inlo by th c City Council with die owners of the estate. The public have never asked for this Bill, nor has there been any sanction given to tho City Conned to negotiate for Ihe purchase of Miramar. In those cira eum.stunees it is quite absurd for mem. hers ef (he House to suppose that by throwing out the measure they will run counter to thc wishes cl the people of Wellington. The boot is on the other leg. By pawing the Bill the Legislature would be imposing somothing upon the ratepayers which is nei, the? desired nor desirable. Tho Council has begun at the wrong end and now seeks to commit the people to a speculative venture which will largely n> crease I'm burdens of the ratepayers, without any hope of benefit for many years to come. We hope to find tho ratepayers, in their own and tho city’s best, interests, taking such action as v ill induce the Reuse or the Council to reject the Bill nr so to modify it as to denude it of its objectionable and speculative features.