City Council’s White Elephant

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 91, 8 July 1927, Page 13

City Council’s White Elephant

PARNELL PARK KIOSK £2 A WEEK OFFERED 170 R nine months at least the Kiosk in Parnell Park has been empty. Now the Parks Committee is moving to remedy the position, and its methods came in for some discussion at the City Council meeting last evening. The proposal put before the meeting was that for six months the building should be let to Mr. A. Morrow, the council’s district foreman at Parnell. The rental suggested was £ 2 a week, and on the face of it, it was merely renting a house to a servant. Cr. Melville said it seemed extraordinary that a building of this value should be let to a servant at £2 a week. It woiild be better to sell it altogether. Cr. J. B. Paterson said the building had been empty for nine months, and no one would take it, on the council’s terms, or on any other. Mr. Morrow was a reputable citizen, and Mrs. Morrow was prepared to supply refreshments if required. Cr. A. J. Entrican expressed astonishment that more visitors did not use the park, and that no offer had been made for the kiosk. But be could see no reason for the six months. If they were going to get anyone to take it for the summer, it must be ready to take over in October. Cr. Phelan let the full news out when he said he understood the intention was to cater for dances, and supply refreshments. It gave a chance to get about 4 per cent, return on their money, which was better than nothing. Cr. Allum: Do I understand that we are going to let this building to one of our servants, and that hs is going to use it as a restaurant and dance hall? Cr. Phelan: That is the only reason he ean offer £2 a week. Cr. Brinsden, chairman of the committee, said this lessee was offering to do just what the council had been unable to do, provide refreshment. “I hope the council does not think we are

a lot of duffers,” remarked Cr. F. W. H. Brinsden. “We are just about as capable as any committee of this council, and if you will leave us alone we will run all these things all right,” We have tried every means of getting rid of this building, and it wants looking after. This is our chance. The council decided to let the committee proceed in its own way.