MANY LOCAL REQUESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 12

MANY LOCAL REQUESTS.

THE MINISTER APPROACHED. DEVONPORT AND ITS AFFAIRS. "WILL SEE INTO IT LATER." A busy morning was spent, at Devonport yesterday by the Minister of Lands and his Departmental officers going into matters which affect the borough as far as reserves are concerned. After visiting Smith's Bush at Takapuna and having a look at that marine suburb, Mr. McLeod came across to the city and held consultations with the Jewish community representatives in regard to certain matters at Symond Street cemetery, and then went to Newmarket to discuss reserves with the borough council there, finally finishing up at the glass works.

Round About Devonport. Tho first deputation, headed by the Mayor, Mr. T. Lnmont, and consisting ot' 'Borough Councillors, was introduced by Mr. A. Harris, member for Waitemata. The Minister was shown eight houses fronting King Edward Parade and Beach Koad, and occupying a portion of the Domain. The houses were reported to be in disrepair and it would be a good job if they would be removed altogether. The "present rent was approximately £.">OO per annum and the council did not get any rates out of them. Consequently they were about £1300 in arrears on the property. The Minister was asked if the Covernment could be made liable for rates, to which he replied there was no chance of the Government admitting any liability for rates. They had £100,000 worth of property in Wellington, and if they admitted liability for rates at Devonport, then they would have to admit the same liability in Wellington.

Mt. Victoria Reserve. Next Victoria reserve was visited, and the Minister was asked for a sum of money for its maintenance and improvements. It was explained that •during the past six years the Domain llioard.liad spent about £'2GO in cleaning weeds, repairing paths, etc. The revenue .from grazing had averaged about £20 per •annum. Up till 13 years ago provision 'was made for prison labour to keep the .'reserve clean. A portion of the reserve ;is used for a signal station and a portion for'defence works. It was explained .that Mt. Victoria was the most picturesque reserve in the whole of the district. In asking for a sum of money to make •it'more attractive, Mr. Lamont and ; councillors pointed out that the sum of . £197,050 of unimproved value of Devon'port was represented by non-ratable : properties, which consisted of about one- . fifth of the borough. If these properties could be made ratable, on the present : basis of rating, a further revenue of £3000 per annum would be available.

In reply to a question by the Minister, 'Mr. J. H. Lowe, Commissioner of Crown - Lands, said that the Defence Department had no title to it and it was still a 'domain. To which the Minister replied, "\Veil, if the Defence Department want it -they will have to do what the Lands ! Department have to do if they want land ' —jmrchase it." Mr, Lamont asked if there was any chance of the borough getting North Head as a public domain. The Minister: Well, I don't know . anything about it. Proceeding to Fort Cautley reserve the Minister suggested that the front sections facing tlie road should be sold for building purposes. This would enable the borough to got some rates off that property at anyrate. Referring to Mt. Victroia at a later stage, the Minister said that what was wanted was some public spirited men to tackle the proposition. \ Mr. Lamont: : If we could ,get some money to help get the weeds' out. .} ;;■'{ The Minister: Yes, it's not very creditable to the borough in its present condition. Mr. Lamont: There is no revenue to keep it in order. The Minister: There is nothing to prevent you from using money from' one reserve on another. . Mr. Lamont: But we don't get any money and we are £1300 in arrears on that Beach Road property. The Minister explained that Parliament only allowed him a certain sum annually and he found it most difficult to hand out £.30 here and £100 there to the smaller towns which really needed help with their domains and' then to spread the sum over the GOO or 700 domains in the Dominion. All the votes £he Department could give would not go far.

Mr. Harris: How about giving £100 per year for a number of years? The Minister: I can't give a sum of money for more than one year, and each year has to be given separately. Mr.'Lamont: If we got something to keep the growth down and help put it in order it would be all right. The Minister: The only assurance I can give' you at the moment is that I shall certainly take this Mt. Victoria Domain into consideration when deciding ly-hat can be done and will work it out as I can. It certainly is the best of its kind in the North Island. •Next the site of the proposed new municipal offices and town hall was discussed with the Minister, subsequent to which he said that the whole of the matters brought before him would be considered, but he would not give any definite answer till he knew something more about things.