THE CITY RESERVES.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14408, 19 May 1917, Page 6

THE CITY RESERVES.

PROPOSED CURTAILMENT OF

EXPENDITURE

PROTEST BY THE ADVANCEMENT

SOCIETY.

Messrs "W. J. Moffatt. G. M. Rout, Jfl. K. -Duncan, T. A. fi. field, Ai.l J., ii. M. Field, A, E. Jackson, ill. Webley, K. (j. Lucas, aud C. Miiner waited on the City Council, last night as a deputation from the Advancement Society. Mr Miiner said they wished to iirge the Council to consider the reserves when framing the estimates. They asked ioi iiu increased exj^enditui'e or improvements, but they did ask that they be maintained at ' the present standard, rie thought everyone would agree that the reseives were a credit to those responsible for them.

Mr T. A. H. Field said the Society ■\Yt re tncrougnlv in accord with the Councils intention to effect economy, but they hoped j;o penny wise and pound icolisn policy would be pursued iv regaid to the reserves. They also wished to state that they thoiight the pioposal to'replace the native -Trees in Trafalgar street with others would be an unnecessary expenditure.

Mr Moffatt thought every councillor would sympathise with the request. The Advancement Society intended to present for Anzac Park i-inee seats valued at about £15 to mark its apprecjacion of wJiat had been done there. They hoped that the reserves would bo at least maintained a.s they wero now for the next two years.

The Mayor said he was strongly in sympathy with the request. The Council considered that the reserves and all other accounts must be carefully reviewed in order to keep within their finances, but he thought- he coitld assure them that there would bs little foiling off in the Administration, tb.ough the expenditure might be reduced, lie had asked the City Engineer not to touch the trees in Trafalgar street South until the Works Committee had reviewed the proposal.

Cr. Carlisle expressed sympathy with the deputation, and appreciation of the intended gift of seats. In view of the state of the city finances he suggested that- the value of the seats would bo a more practical gift than the seats themselves. Such a sum for expenditure on Anzac Park would be of great assistance to the Council jnr,t now.

The deputation then withdrew