AVENUE ROAD RESERVE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14133, 12 February 1910, Page 2

AVENUE ROAD RESERVE.

LEASING BILL TO BE’ PROMOTED

In accordance -with notice, of motion the Mayor moved at the council meeting last night that the necessary steps bo taken to promote a Bill enabling the council to lease for building purposes the forty-three sections comprised in tho reserve on tho, east side of the Avenue Road. If the proposal could bo given effect to it would bring in considerable' revenue to tho council and perhaps _ a clause could be inserted in the Bill whereby say £2OO should bo paid over to the Recreation Grounds. He would also suggest that if the Bill was carried that no one ho allowed to build houses of loss value than £SOO. Councillor Wilson said he would second tho motion as it stood. He was certain that if the Mayor or some other representative of the council was authorised to proceed to Wellington and put the matter fully before the Local Bills Committee tho objections to the scheme would bo overcome. He could not support tho suggestion of the Mayor that part of the revenue be utilised for recreation ground purposes. He would always'bo strongly , opposed to this so long as tho grounds wore under the present control. The only, control the council had at the present time was the power of the purse. Tho proposal to hand over a fixed sum would take away what little powef of control they had. Until tho control of tho Park passed into the hands of the council hb for one would not be in favour of contributing to the funds except by annual subsidy. Councillor Bro\yn'e supported the ihotiou.

Councillor Dockrill said those who know the strenuous -work ho had put in in- the past, together 'with others, to secure and protect this reserve for the -people would not bo surprised now to sec him opposing tho motion. The same arguments as -wore now being advanced could also bo advanced by future Mayors, who might find, themselves pinched financially—the Mayor had admitted the advantage of getting funds from the rcso'rv.o—in vegard to other reserves., He urged that there were none too many reserves in tho borough, but, still ho was not a bit afraid. Whatever tho council did he didn’t think the Bill would go through. From his knowledge of politicians, none of thorn were disposed to give away tho people’s rights, and tho answer given by Mr. Fowlds when visiting Now Plymouth recently went to show they were quite as strong as over on that point.

Councillor Bellringer said ho would like to see the reserve producing a groat deal more revenue. The motion was carried.