CLOSING PORTIA STREET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 85, 30 May 1911, Page 5

CLOSING PORTIA STREET.

BOROUGH COUNCIL OPPOSED. CRS. WARD AND PAGET AT LOGGERHEADS. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council the request of the Hospital Board to close a portion ol Porlia Street was considered. Cr. M orison said ho had made enquiries among those interested, and to a man they were against the closing of the street. . Cr. McAllister said the Hospital Board was not pledged to the scheme, but they wanted an expression of opinion from the Council. If Cr. Morisoa had interviewed the people lie said he had the majority of them had changed their minds since they were interviewed by members of the Hospital Board. Tiie only persons to be considered wore those who actually held property in the street, and if they were willing to sell, there was no other consideration to bo taken into account. The Borough was well oil' for streets, and could easily spare this one. Cr. Morison rose to n personal explanation. Ho had not said that he had interviewed thoso with property in the street. He had interviewed people more or less up and down the district. Cr. King said ho would oppose the closing tooth and nail. The Council would he wanting in its duty to the ratepayers if consent was given to the closing. Cr. Paget said lie would oppose the closing because the idea was silly, because the Council would be defeated when the proposal was put before the ratepayers, because it was unfair to the ratepayers and because it was absolutely unnecessary. The hospital now had any amount of room, if mere room was wanted for the hospital in ton, twenty, or thirty years, what was to stop tbo hospital being shifted well out of the town ? To close the street was to make a gift (o the Stiatford and Whangamomona Counties to the detriment of the Borough Council.

Cr. SangsteV favoured the street being closed. Ho thought the Council could not go far wrong in making a gift to the Hospital. The Council might ask tbo Board to give tbo town a cricket ground out of its land. Cr. Boon favoured the closing if the Board would buy the sections from end to end of the street. The Mayor did not favour the Board taking a piece out of the centre of the street and leaving two dead ends. However, he thought the Board knew what they wanted, and they would not have fought so much for this street if it was not necessary to dose it. In his opinion there were too many streets in the Borough—as would he found out later on. Cr. Sangster moved that steps be taken to close the street, providing that the Board purchased all the sections in the street. Cr. Healy seconded pro forma. He voiced the opinion that it would be impossible to close the street, although the Council agreed. Cr. Morison said ho had put his own opinions in his pocket on the question—he was voicing what lie considered the opinions of the majority of thoso interested.

Cr. King said the only thing to consider was: Is the proposed action in the best interests of the public? He thought not. 1 Cr! Paget said the Council should oppose the closing because it was wanted for an extravagant reason. The Council was one of the providers of funds for the Board, and should, by opposing the closing, stop the Board spending money extravagantly. When Stratford wanted a bigger hospital than could be put on the present section the present hospital woidd be unsuitable and would need to be re-erected, and it might just as well be erected further out of town. Cr. Ward said Cr. Paget should not speak about extravagance. Cr. Paget himself had got a big cut out of the Hospital. Cr. Paget rose to a point of order. He thought Cr. Ward should not refer to his salary when he was medical superintendent. Cr. Ward said ho had not mentioned salary. The Mayor, being appealed to, said he had not heard Cr, Ward mention the word. Cr. Paget said ho could not expect the Mayor to call Cr. Ward to order. The Mayor resented Cr. Paget’s remarks. Cr. Paget said lie thought Cr. Ward’s remarks were grossly impertinent. After some discussion, Cr. Ward withdrew his remarks, regarding Cr. Paget, and Cr. Paget withdrew anything which might have seemed disrespectful to the chair. Cr. King thou moved as an amendment that the Council was unable to accede to the Board’s request. The amendment was carried.