THE LIBRARY

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3214, 9 August 1932, Page 4

THE LIBRARY

PLANS OF BUILDING TO BE PREPARED. LOCATION ON THE TRIANGLE SITE. A decision to place the library at a location on the triangle site at the junction of Bank and Teasdale Streets, with a further suggestion of incorporating new municipal offices in the same build.ng, was made by the Borough Council last night. The Mayor was given authority to have sketch plans prepared forthwith. The question was raised by Cr Armstrong, who said the time has now arrived for a definition of the Council’s policy. The period provided by standing orders had elapsed, enabling the question to be re-considered and, as he had been elected pledged to bring the proposal forward, he felt it incumbent on him to do so. He would therefore propose “That the library building be erected on the triangle site.”—Continuing, Mr Armstrong said the position is well understood by Councilors. The need for the reading room is more acute to-day than it has been in the past. Moreover, the Council may qualify with such a work for subsidy at the present time. Cr Savill seconded.

Cr Armstrong went on to explain that a committee had considered the position. Time had elapsed and they could now review the whole question without the misunderstandings of the past. The fund now stands at £1132, and it was deemed advisable that the full sum should be expended on buildings rather than in the acquisition of further land.

Cr Empson referred to the appointment of a committee. He understood the idea of the committee was to confer with the various parties. The library question had caused no end of trouble in the past. It was not possible to proceed at once as the site proposed is not vested in the library. The Council had lost an estimable Councillor, and had gained another Councillor whose hands are tied. The value of the site did not enter into the question; the central position was the library’s own site. The idea of building the library now on the triangle would not work. It would take tme to declare a portion of the triangle a library site. The question was backed by vested interests—it had put off one Councillor—it had dragged in a religious body and had caused more friction and illwill than anything had ever done in the history of the Council. . .

The Mayor: There is no need to go into all those details again. Cr Gifford asked whether the Council had power to build on the triangle ? The opinion of the borough solicitors, obtained several months ago, was read. The solicitor traversed the history of the existing library fund, the taking of a loan authority poll, and the acquisition of the triangle, there being no trust on the t ; tle. The Council could therefore cieariy provide that land for a library.

Cr Empson said this bore out his contention the land must be set aside for a library. The Mayor said the last speaker had tried to dun that into the heads of Councillors for months. The solicitor said, “If it is desired the land can be set aside.”

Cr Gifford: Then it should be set aside first.

The Mayor: The position is plain. The Council can legally expend the money on that site. If the port on of the land is set aside, there is nothing to prevent a future Council, if it so desires, to have the setting aside revoked. Cr North thought it would be a betrayal of trusft not to use the gazetted library site. He could not understand why the Library Committee had ignored the existence of the proper site. The Mayor said Burchell’s buildings are erected on a library site. According to the argument the library should be* on that site then. Further the Mayor said he had consulted with Mr Mawson, the director of Town Planning. That gentleman at his request had inspected both sections—the triangle and section 100. He expressed the opinion that there was not one merit that would justify the expenditure of public money on section 100. That could surely be accepted as an expert opinion. Cr Savill said the public generally asked for the triangle. The. only bogey remaining is that a portion of the land should be dedicated for a library because if we don’t we may, at some future date, shift it to somewhere else. If that bogey still survives, then why not dedicate the land and be done w'th it. Cr Gilbert thought the exact location should be first defined. Cr Armstrong said assuming the motion is carried, he woidd move that the Mayor be empowered to consult with an architect regarding the planning. Following that there would be a further motion to seek expert advice for the best possible lay-out of the section as a whole. It was not possible for him to do more than make a general proposal. It was for the Council to seek the best possible technical advice so as to secure the best advantage, not only for the actual library building but for the who e utilisation of the available land. H was not logical to hold that the legal posit : on is any ways in doubt. The opinion of 'the solicitor removed all doubt. No Councillor should delay the election of the library. The committee had investigated other proposals and was unanimous in rejecting proposals involving the purchase of additional land, as this would reduce the amount available for building. The Library Committee had done good service and had built up a creditable library, not only for the town but toi the whole d* strict. Regarding the visit of the Town Planner, he had been invited by a ■ representative committee and when advised of his coming, the committee had decided that the Mayor should lie the only one to confer with the visitor, so that he wou'd be in no ways influenced, Cr Armstrong concluded by appealing to all Councillors to forget all the confusion of the past. On being put to the meeting the resolution to erect the library on the

triangle was carried, the Mayor and Crs Armstrong, Savill, Rainey and Gilbert supporting, and Crs Gifford, Empson, North and Brown opposing. The Mayor referred to the proposals for the remodelling of the Town Hall. Would it be possible, he asked to incorporate in the scheme of building Council Chambers as well, thus leaving the present offices and council chambers as an annexe to the hall. Cr Armstrong further moved that the Mayor be empowered to consul'! with a suitable architect obtain sketch designs of municipal offices and library. The Council could give consideration when the preliminary sketch plans are submitted,_ _ and could then deal with the feasibility of proceeding with all or a portion of the proposals. Cr Armstrong further moved that the Council obtain practical advice m regard to the lay out of the section. —This was not agreed to. After a general discussion of location on the section, Cr Gilbert proposed that a sketch plan be submitted to the Council of the whole section showing the library about 12 feet away from the Plunket room. This was'carried after a general and somewhat protracted discussion of the best means of securing a lay out plan of the section.