“ARMED PEACE" PREVAILS IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20561, 12 March 1935, Page 6

“ARMED PEACE" PREVAILS IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL.

Even Party Balance keeps Councillors in Uneasy State.

(Special to the “Star.”) SYDNEY. March 5. The delicately poised “balance of power” in the City Council—the Labour Aldermen and Independents having a dubious bare majority over the Reformers —has already caused trouble, and will very likely lead to much more in the near future. A crisis very nearly arose over a question, which not only aroused bitter personal feeling but served to illustrate the difficulty of getting any sort of resolution through the council as at present constituted. 7 he proposal before the council was in favour of completing the widening of Park Street. As everybody, who has been in Sydney will remember. Park Street, between Castlereagh Street and Pitt Street, is contracted to very small dimensions, and the scheme is to widen out the street to the breadth that it has already attained east and west of these limits. From George Street to Pitt Street, and from Castlereagh Street to Elizabeth Street, Park Street is a fine broad highway, quite equal to the transport requirements of this part of the city. But the intervening portion of the street is little more than a “bottle-neck,” which constantly impedes the city traffic and presents a continuous menace to motorists and pedestrians alike. Of course, it has always been intended that the roadway should be widened to a uniform breadth throughout.

JTIYE Y EARS AGO financial arrangements were made to resume the required land, and the tenants received three years’ notice. At the end of that period—as the depression was upon us and the financial outlook was gloomy—the notice was extended for a further two years, and this period has now expired. Last week a resolution was moved in the council by Alderman “ Stonewall ’ Jackson to rescind a resolution passed on February 18 giving a further twelve months’ extension of tenure from that date to the Park Street lessees. But no public body likes to talk about rescinding motions, and Alderman Nock moved as an amendment that the council should at once proceed to sell the land residues and the licenses of the two hotels concerned, and “ in six months’ time should proceed with the immediate reconstruction of the street whether the residues were sold or not.” Labour Aldermen Oppose. But the Labour aldermen, as before, strenuously opposed the scheme, apparently because they think that the municipal funds could be spent to better purpose in ether directions; and Alderman Jackson, who never welcomes criticism or opposition, made an extremely vehement reply. He denounced the prolonged delay over this scheme as “ a public indecency,” and he wanted to know what was the mysterious influence behind the obstinate determination of the Labour aldermen that “ Park Street shall not be ’widened.” Said Aiderman Jackson: “There are associations with these hotels in Park Street that do not make very good reading. If I had authority I would institute an inquiry into the unseen forces that are delaying the widening of Park Street.” This very deliberate insinuation naturally roused the Labour aldermen to wrath. Alderman O’Dea was on his feet in a moment, demanding . that the inquiry suggested by Alderman Jackson should be set up at once. Alderman Donald Grant, who in his palmy days has assured many a Domain audience that “ the Day of Blood is drawing near,” challenged Alderman Jackson to put down his charges in writing. "You are a mongrel and a cur,” he shouted, as the suave Lord Mayor appealed in his blandest tones to the council for dignity and self-control. It was not a creditable scene, and, like many other episodes of a similar nature, it was largely Alderman Jackson’s fault. But the result of the division might prove an important matter to the Reformers, and as the debate drew to a close they cast anxious eyes along the table, and computed the possibilities. One Labour member, Alderman Farrell, was absent, but

his defection was more than balanced by the absence of Alderman Hagon and Sir Samuel Walder on the other side. Toward the close of the discussion Aiderman Jackson, perhaps feeling that he had gone- too far, rose to explain that he had not meant to charge the Labour aldermen with taking money for their votes. But this belated apology produced little effect, and before the division was reached it had become evident that Alderman M’Elhone meant to vote with the Labour contingent. Alderman M’Elhone is one of the two Independents on the council—the other being Lord Mayor Parker—and with the help of his vote the Labour aldermen could just equal the voting strength of the Reformers. On the other hand, if the voting resulted in a “ tie ” the Lord Mayor might use his casting vote one way or the other. Eleventh Hour Appearance. With matters in this precarious position the amendment favoured by the Reformers was put, and the Town Clerk was actually counting the votes when the door of the chamber opened and Sir Sam Walder appeared. The Reformers made no attempt to conceal their joy. “Hurry up! Take your seat! ” they shouted in chorus, and the ex-Lord Mayor was quickly shepherded into line. Even then the motion for proceeding at once with the enlargement of Park Street was carried by only 9 votes to 8, and though the Reformers and the Lord Mayor ivere thus released from an unpleasant predicament, the ill-feeling engendered at this meeting did not evaporate with its close and may produce serious consequences before long. One indication of the confirmed hostility of the Labour aldermen to the Reformers was given at a Labour caucus last week, when it was resolved that “in no circumstances ” would the Labour men grant “ pairs ” to Reform aldermen likely to be absent from the council for a considerable time. The reference was to Alderman Nock, who is visiting America shortly, and to Sir S. Walder, who had arranged a trip to England. But Sir Sam Walder, who has had long experience of municipal warfare, evidently is apprehensive about the future, for he has now announced that he will put off his own trip till Alderman Nock gets back from the United States. So Lady Walder and her daughter are leaving shortly for England while Sir Sam remains “ on guard ” till he is relieved by Alderman Nock. It is a quaintly “ militarist ” arrangement, and it suggests aptly enough the state of “ armed peace ” which exists on the City Council just now.