PETROL TANK PERMIT PASSED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 14

PETROL TANK PERMIT PASSED.

MAYOR’S NOTICE OF MOTION DEFEATED. FURTHER APPLICATION CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL The question of the bulk petrol storage tanks which the Vacuum Oil Pty., Ltd. proposes to establish at the corner of Hazeldean and Park Roads, Addington, was again discussed by the City Council last night when the following notice of motion by the Mayor (Mr J. K, Archer) came forward:—“That the resolution adopted by the council on November 8, 1926, granting the application of the Vacuum Oil Company to install underground petrol tanks on a section of land at the corner of Hazeldean and Park Roads be rescinded.'’ The Mayor’s motion was lost by 7 votes to 9, and thus the previous resolution of the council granting the permit stands. The voting was as follows. For the motion: The Mayor and Councillors Andrews, Ford, Cooke, Butterfield, Carr and M’Combs. Against: Councillors Agar, M’Kellar, Anderson, Beaven, Leadley, Sim, Carey, Du Feu and Aschman. In submitting his motion the Mayor said he did not intend to speak to it. They all knew his views on the matter. Councillor E. R. M’Combs said that she hoped some of the councillors, who had voted in favour of the tanks, would see the matter in a proper light and reverse their decision. There were women and children living in the neighbourhood who would be terrified if the tanks were established on the proposed site. "Councillor W. J. Sim said that the only new matter placed before the council that night was the statement made by the Mayor earlier in the meeting that a resident of Christchurch, who had recently returned from America, was of opinion that the tanks were dangerous and should not be placed in residential areas. lie asked that the Mayor should give them more particulars. They had the opinion of Mr Girling Butcher, the highest authority in the land, that the tanks were safe. The Mayor said that Mr Girling Butcher had not been asked to express an opinion as to whether these tanks should be placed in a residential area. He (the Mayor) had asked Mr Girling Butcher the question, and he had replied that it was for the council to say whether an area was a residential one or not. With regard to the opinions of the resident of Christchurch who had recently returned from America, the Mayor said he would be prepared to give further 'information in committee, but not in open council, because he had received the information in confidence. This gentleman was of opinion that the tanks should not be established in residential areas though in America they were. The Mayor-said he did not expect the councillors .who had voted for the tanks to change their minds. There was an element of sheer cussedness in the matter. Councillor Sim: On which side? . The Mayor: Yours. Councillor W. E. Leadley: I think it is about fifty-fifty. The Mayor’s motion was then put and lost by 7 votes to 9. “PLEASE EXPLAIN.” A letter was received from the Addington Citizens’ Association forwarding the following resolution passed at a meeting of the committee of the association: “Would the members of the City Council who voted in fa’vour of installing underground bulk storage petrol tanks in our district, against our desire, come to a public meeting of residents, and explain why they are so emphatic and determined to foist this application of the Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary. Ltd., on us? In the event of our request not being acceded to, will those councillors give their reasons in open council on Monday night?”

Councillor E. H. Andrews moved that the letter be received and the request be acceded to. Councillor Elizabeth R. M’Combs seconded the motion.

The Mayor: Hear, hear. Councillor C. P. Agar said that the position*was that the By-laws Committee had sought the advice of experts regarding the application. The committee came to an opinion based on the evidence before it, and the answer to the Addington Citizens’ Committee was that the By-laws Committee, after going thoroughly into the matter, was conscientiously of opinion that there was no risk to persons living in the vicinity of the proposed installation, and that it would not depreciate property ; also that had a similar application been received for an installation in the of their own residences, they would have had to, in the honest discharge of their duty to the ratepayers, grant the permit. He considered that there was no occasion for those who voted for the application to appear before the Citizens’ Committee. Councillor Andrews said that the granting of the permit was in conflict with the provisions of the Town Planning Act. Councillor F. R. .Cooke said that the chairman of the By-laws Committee conceded that ratepayers should have a right to object to hoardings; yet he denied the Addington residents the right to object to the installation of a petrol tank. The Mayor said that the council had never had any opinion that there was no risk. A Christchurch resident who had just returned from a trip abroad, where he had gone thoroughly into the question, stated that there was danger. Regarding the question of depreciation, a prominent land agent was prepared to say that if he was asked now to value the properties in the vicinity of the site of the proposed installation, he would allow a certain amount for depreciation. “NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT INVITATION.” Councillor A. M’Kellar said he was not prepared to accept the invitation to attend the meeting. The site of the proposed installation was right alongside the Addington railway station, which was already an industrial area. The council was placed in the position that for political purposes the Mayor and others had made a fuss over the installation of the tanks. Voice?: No, no. Councillor M’Kellar said that the council had decided to grant the permit, and he thought it was quite right in doing so. The motion was carried by 10 votes to 6. Those who voted against it were: Councillors Agar, M’Kellar, Anderson, Carey, Du Feu and Sim. The Mayor (to Councillor Agar) : We’ve got you this time. Councillor Agar remarked that the invitation referred only to those who had voted for the installation of the , tanks. RESIDENTS’ OBJECTION. A letter was received from Mrs M. E. Felton, urging as a resident and property owner in the vicinity of Hazeldean Road and Park Road cor-

ner, that permission be not granted to the Vacuum Oil Company to erect

petrol storage tanks in the neighbourhood.

Councillor Leadley said that the Mayor and himself had waited on the land agent who had called on Mrs Felton in an endeavour to get her to sell her property, and he had explained that at that time he believed that the proposed tanks were to be above ground. The letter was received. A LEGAL OPINION. At the meeting of the council on November 8, when a letter was received from the Vacuum Oil Company, asking the council to reconsider the whole matter, and' grant a permit, the Mayor ruled that, in view of the council’s previous decision rescinding the resolution, which first granted the permit, the company’s further application could not be dealt with except by notice of motion. The council passed a motion disagreeing with the Mayor’s ruling, and subsequently a motion was carried by nine votes to eight, granting .the company’s application. However, the council decided that, before formally issuing the permit, it should obtain the opinion of the City Solicitor as to whether its decision was in order. This opinion was submitted to the council at its meeting last night, and was to the effect that the council was in order in dealing with the company’s renewed application, and that the permission could be acted upon. The Mayor said he thought the City Solicitor had missed the point at issue. He said, in his opinion, tlffit the effect of his (the Mayor’s) ruling was that the council would not be justified in dealing in any manner with the company’s application. He did not rule that the matter could not be re-opened. He ruled that it could not be reopened without, notice of motion. Councillor C. L. Carr said he thought the council should get the opinion of Mr Martin, the solicitor of the Municipal Association. Mr Leadley said he did not see what purpose would be served by getting a further opinion except to delay granting the permit. Councillor Sim said that the council had protected itself by getting a legal opinion. If the permit was out of order, then they should let the Vacuum Oil Company run the risk or protect itself by getting a legal opinion. It would be tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the City Solicitor to get a further opinion. The Mayor said he had full confidence in the City Solicitor, but in this case he thought the solicitor had missed the point. The letter conveying the solicitor’s opinion was received. Councillor Carr moved that the opinion of Mr Martin be obtained on the question. Councillor Agar said he did not think they should waste the ratepayers’ money in this way. A further opinion would serve no good purpose. The Mayor said he understood that Mr Martin’s opinion would be sought only on the academic point at .issue and that the question of granting the permit to the Vacuum Oil Company would not be held up. He had not brought the question up with any idea of delaying the matter. Councillor Carr’s motion was defeated by four votes to twelve. ANOTHER APPLICATION. Later in the meeting, an application from the British Imperial Oil Company, Ltd., for a permit for the storage of petrol in bulk at their premises in Montreal Street came up for consideration. The application was originally made on September 24, 1925, the proposal being to instal two underground tanks of 12,000 and 8000 gallons capacity respectively. The matter had been before the By-Laws Committee, which did not make any recommendation to the council. The Mayor said that the company had changed the site without consulting the council, abandoned its intentions to lay pipes across the roadway and gone a long way towards installing the tanks. A very great deal of work had been done and a great deal of expenditure entailed, the company apparently assuming that the permit would be obtained in due course. He protested against that sort of thing. Councillor Andrews said that the original proposal was that pipes should be laid in Montreal Street, but since then the plans had been changed a good deal. He moved that the application be held over until the Town Planning Act come into operation on January 1. Councillor M’Combs seconded the motion. Councillor Sim said that the Town Planning Act was beginning to cast its shadow before it. The Act provided for a period of three years in which a plan could be drawn up and submitted to a board for approval. He objected to anything being held up pending the coming into operation of the Town Planning Act. Councillor Leadley moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the By-Laws Committee for full consideration. The amendment was seconded by Councillor C. T. Aschman. The Mayor said' that the whole policy in regard to oil tanks should be seriously considered by the committee in order that they should not have tanks dotted about all over the city. Councillor A. W. Beaven said that all the tanks were alongside the railway line. Moreover the Mayor had misled the citizens of Christchurch in the letter he had written to the papers in connection with the oil tanks in Wellington. The tanks in Wellington were in a more dangerous position than any of those in Christchurch. The Mayor: To which tanks do you refer. Councillor Beaven replied that he referred to those on the Hutt Road. The Mayor said that there were no residences there. He advised Councillor Beaven not to talk unless he knew something of what he was talking about.

The amendment was carried on the voices.