NORTHCOTE LEASEHOLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 129, 2 June 1926, Page 10

NORTHCOTE LEASEHOLD.

— ,_,..., ♦ —■ ■ HOSPITAL ENDOWMENT lAND. CONVERSION TO FREEHOLD ASKED. The leasehold tenure of the endowment lands at Northcote was again attacked by Mr. J. F. Jackson at the meeting of the Northcote Borough Council last evening. He moved "That the Minister in Charge of Hospitals (Hon. J. A. Young) be requested to include in the order of reference of the inquiry into , the administration of the Auckland Hospial Board, the question of the freeholding of the board's endowment of some'9o acres at Northcote." Te leaseholds, he said, were blocking the of the district. The census showed an increase of only 317 for the past five years. The Mayor (Mr. C. A. Deuxberry) said that the scope of the commission would be limited to the conduct of the hospital. Mr. J. B. Tonar considered that the council s_ould ask the Minister f» include the question of the endowment. This was part of the board's administration. If the board did not get the full benefit of this investment the ratepayers had to make it up. Mr. E. W. B. Herrick thought that the course suggested would not be wise, as it would antagonise the board. Mr. Jackson: Antagonise? We want to clear the Hospital Board out of our district as landlords! The whole borough is locked up, and are we to sit down and tamely submit because of the fear of antagonising the board? The chairman (Mr. W. Wallace) had said, "Hands off our reserves!" but their reply should bi to remove this barrier to the advancement of their district. The Mayor said that Northcote was rating on the unimproved value, and unless it reverted to the former system of annual value, or capital value, the erection of new houses there would not improve the financial position of the council. He questioned whether the comimission would ever dream of going into this question, for which they might press by other methods. On the Mayor's suggestion, Mr. Jack-. 9on altered his motion to the effect that the council deputationisc the Minister on the matter. This was carried, the Mayor and Messrs. Tonar and Jackson being appointed to interview the Hon. J. A. Young. Mr. F. L. Maxwell expressed the opinion that a petition would be desirable. Mr. Jackson: I could get. a petition signed very quickly if I took one round this district.