RANGITOTO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 67, 21 March 1938, Page 8

RANGITOTO.

COTTAGE OWNERS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTBfe ALLEGES HARDSHIPS DETAILED. (By Tslegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLEsGTOX, this day. The unfortunate position of the cottage owners on Rajngitoto Island was brought under the notice of the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Xaeh, bv a deputation introduced by Mr. W. J Lyon (Oiovernment, Waitemata). * The Devon port Borough Council and Rangitoto Domain Board were represented bv Mr. E. Aldridge, and the cottage owners by Mr. H. Oakley Browne, the deputation being the result of a mass meeting of the island cottage owners.

Mr. Lyon reviewed the circumstances under which an order had been made by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Longstone, demanding the evacuation of the cottages within 20 years. He eaid this entailed severe hardship on a number of people who had placed a considerable amount of their savings into pleasant little residences -which they ueed lat week-ends and during- holidav periods, and which they intended to use in their years of retirement. He was of the opinion that the Minister's decision had been hastily made and that the full measure of the equity of the position had not been realised. Transformation. The process whereby Kangitoto had been transformed from a volcanic wilderness into an accessible and desirable picnic resort was detailed by Mr. Aldridge. By creating roads and "seaside amenities such as bathing pools, boat harbours, reserves, tennis courts, etc.. the Domain Board had done a commendable work which was much appreciated by the residents as well as by tbe thousands of visitors who regularly patronised the island. The only revenue that the board had had at ite disposal to develop the island was the rentals from the cottar sites. For over 30 years the boanfe policy liad been to rent sites for cottages and the Crown Lands Department had fully concurred with this practice The cottage proprietors had taken a personal pride in the island and had materials helped in protecting Rangitoto from ravages by fire and vandalism by woodcutting parties and others. Thev had also been helpful in keeping down the spread of ragwort., blackberry, foxglove and other noxious weeds, the seeds of which were conveyed to tbe island bv the wind and through the agency of birds. Mr. Aldridge said that if "the Government would agree to a variation of the order in the direction of fieann-* a special endowment area the position wouid be met. seeing that the cottages were all picturesque and properly maintained. The inland had an are* of r>ooo acre* and he that it would not be a preat deal to have I<X) acres set aside as suggested. "Snap" Decision.

[ e Mr. Browne said that the Minister* •snap" decision meant hardship for many and almost ruin for some of ths cottage owners. Under the order no I cottage owner could transfer his proIperty under any circumstances, even |dnrin<r the twenty years permitt-ed. The jMinister'.* fiat was" to the .effect that if J anybody desired to pet rid of life I property he had either to pull it down jor remove it. That meant considerable Joss to all concerned. Transfers were, not even possible within family circles. Surely that was. a drastic end to a situation that had never given trouble and an extraordinary method of ;reating ]>eo|)le who had "acted in gixxl faith and had only erected cottajre* bertnse of tlie "pentlcnienVi agree men t" -tcurity iiffercl over the years hy the Pomain Pi»ard. Before the 20 years had expired the cottages would l>e decrepit and u.«elosk ;<orau«e the order removed the owners" sense of pride in thoir p k-cs-xioiis. Who would paint lii~ cottage or renovate it when he knew that pnurfileally its whole value was dc*ir,.yed by the Govenirrenf- action* On.•" inijjht well visualise the cottage* later on becoming the haunt* of undewirab>-. The action of the Minister wa~ ;i >t ■ia accordance with democratic prineipUw and was not in the interest of i'-:s i«=!and itself as one of the main ;>i;ii: resorts of Auckland and uniipu , :i:nni:l the volcanic- cone- of the world. He appealed to the Minister to tiie idecision reconsidered with a view ;> t'.ie resident owner- I , ? in j> given «or.;e assurance of the future. I The Minister, who nppe.iroi] to*, be impressed, frankly i'ii:i; ho a.-i not know iiuifh about tin- pi-iri-in. Li'.it he promi<«l the de]irit;'.t : "!i ;'ut .i? would l»rill™ ti'.c rc;ir.'~cT:t:ii: ■!'- K-f ■•-■» the Prime Mini-tcr.' tlie H->n. M•T. Savage, and the Minister i>f L.tnl-.