CO129-488 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1925 [1-7] — Page 307

allowing an abatement from the amount awarded on the basis

of the value of such benefit."

I am not prepared to argue that the widening

of these two roads would facilitate military or naval

operations or administration, which I suppose to be the

kind of benefit' to which the Army Council refer, but

I submit that that is not the proper way to approach the

subject. The widening of these two roads, one the main

thoroughfare of the Colony and the other the avenue of

approach to the tramway which forms the main connecting

link between Victoria and the Peak will be of the greatest

possible benefit to the whole community in facilitating

traffic and in reducing the danger to foot passengers which,

owing to the narrowness of the roads, which were constructed

before the possibility of motor-cars was conceived, is

considerable. Garden Road especially in its present

condition is at some times of the day an extremely perilous

road to walk upon. The members of the garrison and of the

fleet will gain their share of the benefits of the widening and indeed perhaps more than their share because the naval

and military establishments are spread along Queen's Road.

Murray Barracks and Parade Ground are on either side of

Garden Road and the tramway is constantly used by that part of the European regiment which is stationed in Hount Austin

Barracks. If these lands were in private ownership the

owner might reasonably be expected to give up the strip required for widening the roads free of cost in view of the advantages which he would, in common with the rest of the community, derive from the improvements and he would be regarded by everybody as a bad citizen if he insisted on exacting the utmost value of the land which he surrendered.

I submit that it is only right to expect that the Army Council should show a good example to private persons in

this