MARKET RESERVE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11888, 30 November 1935, Page 3

MARKET RESERVE

Proposal to Lease Allotments

VIEWS OF MR W. H. REED.

The following letter from Mr William H., Reed was read at this week’s meeting of the Borough Council: “As your Council has expressed surprise at not receiving more information by communications from ratepayers respecting the Omokoroa Wharf, and invited letters of enlightenment and views on other subjects, I feel they will adjudge me quite in order if I place before them ventilation on another activity that might be likely to be influenced to the mutual satisfaction of the inhabitants of Tauranga and your august body. I refer to the tenders which have been asked for in the matter of the Market Reserve. Citizens of high purpose, with views of the future, which resound to their credit and acumen, dedicated in no uncertain way the use of this ground to the general citizens for all time. Their kind and loving forethought is so admirable that it seems almost a sacrilege to make it naught. It is a precious heritage and a glorious gift that requires the utmost care in casting their purpose lightly aside and only on the grounds of urgent stress and immediate need should their pious wishes be made null and void.

Do you think a majority of the ratepayers would countenance any alteration at the present time? The attention of the Council should be called to the offer of allotments In Roberts Street, when the bids did not reach the minimum and the land was withdrawn. It seems then that this is not the time for the Council to force land on the market, competing with their own ratepayers and preventing the dozens of sections already for sale receiving the attention of whatever buyers there may be just at this especial period. Can it be pointed out that nothing was said of this movement at the last election and that it would have caused a great deal of opposition had such intention been freely discussed at that time. There are many ratepayers who would look askance at the injustice to the . memory of past benefactors whose wisdom cann°aiiTe S a * nsa id or wishes ignored. ■,V? e s l ections are near the centre d ® ns est Population, and just f, * V e . imagination can understand hat tying them up for a generation is the worst possible fate that can overwhelm their wise position and purpose.

The Glasgow leases in The Triangle could have given quite a different turn to a controversy that f ?°° k n th ® * a st Council to its foundations, and had an opportunity for immediate resumption been available It would have given satisfaction to the ladiesr of, Tauranga and their wish- ' The unwieldy and complicated fetters that a Glasgow lease places °° property is not sufficiently understod and such a prevention of the use of this Market Rethrown lD n, tlie ? ear future would throttle the activities of the best of our councillors in many schemes which this delightfully placed and bP°ar d nn fU it ly attractive square could bear on its appropriate surface. Your wit can surely devise more relief than a couple of cottages, conlin'ns1 i n ' ns a small minimum of people, could make of it, when its original dedication was destined to give pleasure and comfort to the whole of the municipality, . *L alS ° the ratepayers knew what WecHonc an ? I °, un . t . of mon ey that these wnn rt L - bnng annu ally they that wni Ul3 not worth the double that will accrue at the end of the lease to enter into possession again. This ground will soon be required anrt t” f aCt V 3 actually wanted now’ and I strongly urge the idea of its disposal to be dropped. A few months ago the Council fen°pWni y i a “ d St ° Utly ob i e cted to fencing in any more of the municipal property. Now they actually desire to fence this in; truly a marvellous and unaccountable change of heart that seems to call vigorously for a Councif f PlanaUOn ’ Also can The wilv Winn* 3 * 56 a , position in which a ' ,, la ? d speculator can erect such himJ d / Rg as t 0 make il an Impossibility for any future Council to get control of the land again and force should 'Who tPe ! nvldious Position, should require an equal acreage, to purchase a piece at a proportionately extortionate value elseThfn e^at^ er t than pay compensation. Xrt th e boot would be on the other foot and we should be the laughing ° f i^ ew Zealand - Also an injustice wi! occur if it is sold to land speculators who already hold unj)U(''t'on land in the Borough. No iWL tb i em put t 0 falr uses what they already own. Why place an extra scourge in such harmful hands and allow them to use the heart and not the of our vital municipal frame?

ll!1^ aIIy . 1 , beg of you to stay your hands and let well alone, and please. Please, if you were ever taught to be cautious go carefully now. With all blessing on your deliberations and a wise Issue out of this unfortunate impasse.” The letter was received.

A TOPICAL PICTURE taken in Sqlio, London's Italian quarter.