OLD CHESTER ST. FIRE STATION NOT TO BE REST ROOM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18187, 21 June 1927, Page 13

OLD CHESTER ST. FIRE STATION NOT TO BE REST ROOM.

OPPOSITION RESULTS IN STOPPING SCHEME. On account of opposition being expressed, a proposal by the "Works Committee of the City Council that the old Chester Street fire brigade station should be reconstructed and made suitable for use as a women’s rest room, was withdrawn at the request of the chairman of the committee. The committee reported that it had been ascertained that the Christchurch City Reserves Act, 1877. placed the reserve on which the building was situated in trust for the purposes of a fire brigade station, provided that the corporation shall not be entitled to erect any other buildings or alterations to the free use by the public of the said sections than are necessary for the purposes of the fire brigade station. It was understood that by including a clause in the Local Legislation Bill during the coming session of Parliament it. would be possible to convert the building into a rest room, part of which could be let to the Plunket Society, and the committee recommended that the city solicitor be instructed to prepare a draft clause authorising the council to reconstruct, alter or renovate the existing building for this purpose.

In connection with the matter, Mr R. B. Owen, organiser of the River Improvement Fund, wrote asking the council to refer to the Christchurch Reserves Act, 1877, which expressly provides for all the area of land on the south bank of the Avon, between Colombo Street and Manchester Street bridges, being held as a reserve for all time. He also stated that the Act expressly safeguards the interests cf the city against such a proposal as is now being made, and that these buildings, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, should have been cleared away when the fire brigade vacated the buildings in August, 1913. He therefore asked on behalf of the citizens of Christchurch for the demolition of the buildings, and the restoration of the site to a city reserve, without undue delay. The attention of the council was also directed to the betterment principle contained in the Town Planning Act of 1926, and he respectfully suggested that the proceeds of same be devoted to the purchase of further riverside reserves. Councillor E. R. M’Combs said she hoped Mr Owen would help them to find a suitable place for a women’s rest room.

Councillor E. 11. Andrews said he was opposed to seeking legislation to have any permanent structure erected on the riverbed reserves. He believed it would not be difficult to get a suitable site for a women's rest room elsewhere.

Councillor 11. T. Armstrong, M.P., said that the pld fire brigade station had not been used as a fire station since 1910. Since then it had been used as a lumber room. Apparently it was all right as such but when there was a proposal to beautify the place and turn it into a women’s rest room there was opposition. He could not understand this attitude.

Councillor Andrews: It is being illegally used as a lumber room. Councillor Armstrong: Some people have a bee in their bonnet with regard to open spaces. As a matter of fact we are increasing not decreasing our number of open spaces. The Works Committee was not keen on the proposal to turn the old station into a women’s rest room, but he understood that the conference that had been held was in favour of the proposal. ?The Mayor said that obviously Councillor Armstrong was not made aware of the opposition to the proposal. His opinion was that if they jumped about from one place to another they would finish up with no rest room at all. Someone. should suggest an alternative proposal. It was all very well for Mr Owen to object to the proposal, but where was the rest room to be placed? Councillor Armstrong moved that clause S be struck out. Councillor Beanland: I’ll second that. The amendment was carried unanimously.