STANLEY STREET RESERVE

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 70, 22 March 1916, Page 9

STANLEY STREET RESERVE

■ ■ i OFFERED TO RUGBY LEAGUE. LEASE FOR THIRTY YEARS. j A discussion took place at the meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board last night upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, "that the Rugby League be offered a 15 years' lease of Stanley Street Reserve, at a rental of 41 per cent, on the capital value of £7070 (placed on it by Mr. Ewington) with a right of renewal for a further 15 years at a rental of 5 per cent, on the feesimple of the ground, without improvements." Mr. J. G. Rutherford said he felt sure the valuation was low for the Stanley Street property. He estimated it to be worth fully £ 1000 more. He moved that a further valuation be taken. Mr. P. J. Nerheny argued that land in Stanley Street would not be wanted for warehouses for the next fifteen years, and the ground certainly was not fit for cottages. If they could dispose of the land on its present valuation on a 41 per cent basis, they would do well. He considered the present \-aluation was as stiff a one as any valuer in Auckland would put upon that property. If the value of that land did increase in fifteen years' time (as he believed it .would), the Board would still have the value on the 5 per cent, basis for the next 15 .years. Mr. J. Rowe said he was going to support the report of the committee. Mr. P. M. Mackay said if this was to be reserved as a sports ground, there should be a clause that it could not be sub-leased for other purposes. He would support the recommendation of the Finance Committee. Mr. W. Wallace said sports clubs should be encouraged in every possible way, as| they tended to turn out good soldiers. If the Rugby League could see its way to take the land on the terms recommended let them have it. Mr. E. H. Potter considered the value had been put on a fair basis. Mr. Rutherford said he was only speaking with regard to the valuation of the property. He considered the land was worth considerably more than £7000, now that the railway goods sheds were going to Mechanics' Bay. The amendment was then put and lost, and the recommendation of the committee agreed to.