ACQUISITION OF LAND

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14653, 23 April 1948, Page 6

ACQUISITION OF LAND

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S POLICY

PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE APPROACHED

"I think that in all these cases where the local body feels that it needs land it should first approach the owners to see if they will sell and at what terms," declared Cr W. A. Carswell at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga Borough Council. Cr Carswell made this observation following reference by a legal firm to a report in the Bay of Plenty Times that the council proposed to acquire land adjoining the Aspen tree reserve for the purpose of providing a bus terminal. The legal firm was instructed by an owner of two sections in that locality to state that, if her land was in mind, she had no wish to part with it. Her intention was to build there as soon as she was permitted to do so. After stating that it was a disappointment to an owner to plan to utilise a certain area and then to find that some local body planned to acquire the land, Cr Carswell moved that all owners of land should be approached before this action was taken to ascertain if they wanted to sell and, if so, what their terms would be. The motion was seconded by Cr E. H. Drew. Replying to a question asked by the Mayor (Mr L.R.Wilkinson) Cr Carswell said the first approach would be by letter from the Town Clerk.