PUBLIC VIEWS WANTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19454, 13 October 1937, Page 12

PUBLIC VIEWS WANTED

...AUCKLAND BOARD CHAIRMAN'S PROPOSAL .MEMORIAL PARK PLAN (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The utilisation of the old dock site on the waterfront near Princes wharf as a memorial park for Captain William Hobson, was suggested in the recommendation brought before a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board by the chairman, the Hon. ■T. Bloodworth. A lively discussion was provoked, several members objecting to the disposal of a valuable property in this way, and on a vote of eight to five, the recommendation was referred back to the board in committee. "Since the board decided some weeks ago to consider the question of clearing the dock site, it has occurred to me to suggest a use for the area that has not been referred to before," said Mr. Bloodworth. "I suggest that as part of the board's contribution to the centenary celebrations in 1940, it should agree that the area should be suitably treated and set aside as an open space to be known as Hobson Place, retained n the board's ownership and maintained by the board as a memorial to Captain Hobson. Area Valued at £173,563 "It may be said that the area is too valuable to be set aside for the purpose," said Mr. Bloodworth. "With that I would not agree. The founder of the city should not have a memorial which is of little value. The area is valued at £173,563. Part of it has been available for building purposes for 22 years, and the other part since 1924, so that the whole area has been available for about 14 years. Excent for one small part, the area is still untenanted. It costs the board about £4OO a year, that being the excess payable in rates over the amount received as rent. "The board could well afford to do this. Its last published balancesheet showed a surplus of assets over liabilities of £2,860,275. I do not suggest the area should pass from the board's ownership." • Moving as an amendment that the ;whole, matter be referred back to the board in committee, Mr. W. F. McCallum said it was preferable the matter should receive some publicity before such an important decision was made. The present scheme had never before been indicated and the public" should be made conversant with it: The amendment was carried.