WELLINGTON CITY STREETS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5728, 25 October 1905, Page 5

WELLINGTON CITY STREETS.

THE AAIENDED BILL. REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE. FRESH PROVISIONS. Tho managers appointed by the House cf Representatives to conduct the conforenoo upon tho AVellington CityStreets Bill reported yesterday that they bad. met tho managers appointed by tho Legislative Council, and had conic to tho following agreement:— To delete clause 3 and insert the following new clause in lieu thereof"NoU withstanding anvthing in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900. or its amendments, no new building shall, after the passing of this act, be erected, used, or occupied as a dweliinghouso or as auxiliary to a dwellinghousc, within the city of Wellington, on land fronting any private wav unless every part of such building is ‘distant at least twenty feet from the centre-line (as defined by the Corporation), of such private way? or at least twenty feet from the end Of any private way having only one outlet, or unless such land abuts on a street or a private street, or another private way not less than forty feet wide, provided that this section shall not apply to any building for which a permit has before the passing of this act been granted by the Council. Tho Premier moved that tho House agree to the report of tho conference. Air Aitkon said he did not intend to oppose tho Premier’s motion, but ho wanted to make it quite clear to the House that they had only consented to clause 3 being inserted in tho bill so as to save clan,so 2. It was only hccanso they would lose tho forward stop obtained by that clause that they agreed to clause 3, though they considered the clause was much too restrictive, in some instances amounting almost to confiscation. Legislation of this kind was very much to bo deprecated. If a dwelling-house were destroyed by- fire it could not bo. replaced under clause 3. Air Dutbio considered a great injustice was being done to the city of Wellington by this clafise. They, however, accepted tho clause rather than lose tho bill, which removed a defect in connection with these private streets. They agreed to it only under protest. Mr Fisher said the bill, as introduced, mot with the satisfaction of the representatives of the city and the people concerned. Of course, they could not get the measure through without some interference on tho part of tho head of tho Government, and the X’esult was they had now in the hill what was known as tho “Seddon blot.” If this new clause wore accepted, it would do a great; injustice. He could not understand why it was that they should have applied to .the city of Wellington conditions that were not applied to other cities in tho colony. Tho whole responsibility for th© Wellington' City Streets botch must rest on tho shoulders of the Premier. Tho Minister for Public Works reminded members that tho bill, as introduced, passed tho Local Bills Committee without oppotsition, hut between the time that it cams before the committee and tho House th© Wellington City Council perpetrated the act to which such strong objection was taken —creating a wretched right-of-way. No one but th© City Council itself was responsible for this clause. The health of tho community and tiro prevention oP slums should bo tho first consideration.

Air Ell explained that tbo “Seddon blot” was put in tbo bill by tho desire of the House. Tbo Premier had done tho right thing in trying to prevent slums.

Air Barber concurred with the last speaker. Claliso 3 would not have been put in but for the action of the Wellington City Council. By tho passing of this ■ bill relief was given to the population residing in 220. streets in this city. Air Herrics regarded the new clause as being too drastic. Mr Seddon said ho had listened with surprise to what tho representatives of the property-owners had said. , It seemed they had no consideration at all for tho working men who had to occupy these slums. There were people in Wellington w'ho in their cursed selfishness would not realise that AVellington would become a great city, and that unless they took steps to stop those slums, they would have to do what had been done in London at an enormous cost. The clause now put into tho bill was tho result of a conference with the Mayor of AVellington. and the members for the city. Mr Duthie: All under protest.

Air Seddon: If there is much more of it. I will ask tho House to disagree with the amendments and throw tho hill out, and put the responsibility on the members for Wellington. So long as ho was in public life, he would fight against these slums being created. Hi spito of what had taken place, the City Council tho, other day had mado another 20ft street, at Oriental Bay. If tho Council continued in its action, they would next session have to bring down an amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act to deal with, local bodies who, in defiance of the Legislature, were doing these things. home drastic legislation was necessary. He was advised that the now clause would not prevent buildings that were burnt down in these streets being rebuilt. Mr Fisher called for a division oil the motion that the report of the conference ho agreed to. Ho Lad 10 members with him and 53 against.—The report as submitted was agreed to.