REQUEST NOT GRANTED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6566, 15 September 1948, Page 6

REQUEST NOT GRANTED

PARKING SPACE FOR VETERINARY ASSOCIATION

ATTITUDE OF FORMER COUNCILS MAINTAINED

An application from the Te Awamutu Veterinary Association for a reserved parking space for one veterinarian’s car as near as possible to the office of the association in Alexandra Street was before the Borough Council on Monday night, and it revealed a sharp division of opinion among councillors as to the wisdom of such a request being granted. The opposition was strenuously led by the Mayor, who maintained his implacable attitude exhibited when a similar application was before a previous council.

The request was preferred by a deputation consisting of Mr W. J. Hodgson and Mr Parlane. Mr Hodgson said they desired to apply for a parking space for one veterinarian’s car as near as possible to the office of the association, which operated on behalf of 500 members who had each over 60 cows, so that the association’s three veterinarians gave service to some 300,000 cows. The office would also in the very near future become the head office of a regional organisation, consisting of the veterinary associations of Cambridge, Putaruru and Te Awamutu. The present Te Awamutu veterinarians received from twelve to twenty calls a day, so that if they had to run up and down the streets looking for a parking space a great deal of time was involved, hence the application for one space. If it was granted it would facilitate the work of the veterinarians. Mr Hodgson stressed the relationship between a healthy stock population and a healthy human population. Mr Parlane, in supporting Mr Hodgson, said that the services rendered by the veterinarians was a really well worth-while one and they had made a very substantial contribution toward healthier stock in the district. If the association had a suitable parking space it would facilitate the work of the veterinarians. The Mayor (Mr Spinley) pointed out that there was a parking space, available on the section in Arawata Street owned by Dr Hiskens. Mr Parlane said that was always well filled on Thursdays. The Mayor: There is also space in Walton Street. Mr Hodgson said that to go to the parking place named by the Mayor would take up a lot of time. The idea was to enable the veterinarians to get to the office, receive their calls, and get out to the country where, their work was done, as quickly as possible. The only work done over the telephone was after hours. Mr Hodgson explained the system of working per medium of the telephones. Continuing the speaker said that in two or three years’ time there would be seven veterinarians operating from Te Awamutu.. On the Mayor assuring the deputation that their request would be considered, Mr Hodgson (hanked the council and the deputation then retired. Discussion and Decision

The Mayor said that a similar request had been made on two previous occasions and they had not been agreed to by the then existing councils. To grant the request would require a special by-law and the sanction of a Government department. Ci 1 E. Hopping believed that they as a council should do everything to assist the Veterinary Association who were doing a good job of work. The business people, took up the parking space of those whom they were dependent on. The business people could walk to work, and thus give the country people greater parking facilities. Cr Hopping strongly favoured granting the request. Cr Quick said he knew by personal experience the difficulty in getting parking spaces. They, as a council, should not hesitate to grant the application. The veterinarians were, rendering a professional service to the farming community and it was totally different to other classes of business.

The Mayor said he was always reluctant to grant privileges to any one section of the. community. Everyone who applied to the council for a special consideration could always put up a good case. The Veterinary Association was only busy for about two months and the veterinarians called in at the office in the mornings, got their calls and went on their rounds. Yet they (the council) were asked to keep a reserved space for them for 24 hours a day, all the year round. Parking space could be obtained at Dr Hiskens’ property. Everyone wanted to get parking space at all hours. Cr Hopping said that the doctors and nurses were the only privileged persons.

The Mayor said that personally he opposed the application. Cr G. D. Shepherd said that as a business man he agreed with Crs Hopping and Quick and they should grant the association parking space. The veterinarians were doing a good job of work for the farmers, who were the backbone of the country and on whom Te Awamutu in the main was dependent. Cr Shepherd went on to smilingly include the Mayor among the farmers. The Mayor: “I am a farmer and I am opposing it.” Cr Shepherd went on to say that the time was coming when all business people would be asked to keep their cars off the streets.

Cr M. H. Williams supported the application, and he instanced Hamilton, where there was a parking limit of half an hour. As a compromise, Cr Williams suggested that the association be granted the first space as close to the street frontage as possible on Dr Hiskens’ property. The Mayor agreed and moved in the direction suggested by Cr Williams.

Cr H. G. Babbage., in seconding the motion, said he was not in favour of granting any special parking space to anybody. The parking position in Te Awamutu showed how badly the town had been planned. Sooner or later they may have to limit the time cf parking as was done in Hamilton. Cr Hopping moved as an amendment that a parking space as near as

possible to the association’s offices be granted. Cr J. Russell seconded the amendment. Cr Hopping pointed out that no bylaw had yet been passed legalising tho reserved parking spaces already granted in the town. The amendment, on being put, was lost, and on the motion being put it was carried.