STRATHALLAN STREET CONVENIENCES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18354, 27 August 1929, Page 8

STRATHALLAN STREET CONVENIENCES.

MATTER FINALISED AT LAST. PLANS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL. The much-discussed question of the proposed men’s conveniences at the intersection of Strathallan and Stafford Streets was finali-ed by the Timaru Borough Council last night, when the followin’? clause in the report of the General Committee was adopted:— “Public Conveniences: —The plan of the proposed conveniences was approved and recommended for adoption.” Prior to the adoption of the report embodying this clause, the Mayor read the following report from the Borough engineer (Mr T. O. Fox): — “In reference to your inquiry as to the possibility of placing the proposed conveniences at the junction of Stafford and Strathallan Streets, in a position further to the east than that already decided upon, the level of the sewer does not permit of this unless the structure is raised above ground level.” Councillor Satterthwaite: “What does that represent? We have not discussed the matter further yet.” The Mayor: “When the deputation waited on us at the last meeting, I said we would get a further report. It was before you at the last Committee meeting.” Councillor Satterthwaite: “No. The plan was.” Councillor Benstead: “The adoption of the report does not commit us to a site for the conveniences." The Mayor: "The site has already been arranged by resolution.” Councillor Benstead: “I certainly object to the settling of the site in this manner.” The Mayor: “The site was settled and confirmed by resolution.” Councillor Benstead asked if there was not something wrong in the original resolution. He asked who gave certain Councillors power to act in the matter. The Mayor: “The Council gave power to act.” Councillor Benstead: “As far as I am concerned, no resolution in future will be carried on the voices. A resolution was carried five or six weeks ago to the effect that Councillors should inspect sites, but no mention was made of power to act. I couldn’t go, and neither could Councillors Satterthwaite and Hawkey.” The Mayor: “And all the rest could.” Counciuor Benstead said he would like to know how that resolution, which was not in writing, gave the Council power to decide on a site. According to the Standing Orders, the resolution was not in order, because it was not in writing. It was carried on the voices. Now an attempt was being made to shut the whole matter down. “I am protesting against what I consider to be an irregularity,” continued Councillor Benstead. “This is the first chance I have had of protesting against the way this business has been carried on.” The Mayor said that they had gone through the whole performance. They had had inspectors in Timaru, had had measurements taken, and so on. According to the Municipal Corporations Act, and the Standing Orders, the business of the Council was deait with by a majority of the Council. Councillor Satterthwaite: “The business of the Strathallan Street conveniences has nothing to do with this report. What is your idea of reading the engineer’s further report at the last minute?” The Moyar: “To show you there is nothing further to be done.” Councillor Satterthwaite: “I said on Thursday night that I was not in favour of it. I thought, after the last deputation, that you were going to have another meeting to reconsider the matter. As a matter of courtesy, we are bound to give the deputation some reply. If we do not discuss it to-night, then we should some other night.” The Mayor: “When the deputation waited on us at the last meeting. I then promised, when they came within a few chains of our proposal, that I would get the engineer to take further measurements regarding the fall. I asked the engineer to do that, and I have read you his reply. It is my duty, as Mayor, to read the report to you, and I have done so.” The Mayor then put the resolution adopting the Committee's report. Councillor Benstead: “I call for a division.” Councillor Satterthwaite: “This is not a fair way of doing it.” The Mayor: “I am here to do the business in a fair and straight manner. Don’t you use those words to me.” Councillor Satterthwaite: “You are so positive that the thing is in order. The plans of the conveniences should be laid on the table before they are adopted.” The resolution was carried by five votes to four, the voting being:—For: The Mayor and Councillors Todd, Kennedy, Chittock and Richards. Against: Councillors Hawkey, Satterthwaite, Hart and Benstead. Councillor Richards: “There is one Councillor away who is with us, so it doesn’t matter.”

The Mayor: “That settles it, so far as the conveniences are concerned.”