EDGECUMBE TOWNSHIP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 23, 11 September 1946, Page 5

EDGECUMBE TOWNSHIP

QUESTION OF ITS FUTURE

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER In accordance with the direction of a recent meeting of residents and businessmen of Edgecumbe, a petition was presented to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Lands on Friday last. The petition which was presented by Messrs. W. A._ McCracken and lan B. Gow, introduced by the local members of Parliament, Messrs. W. Sullivan and F. W. Doidge, set out the various reasons why the prohibition of further subdivision for building purposes at Edgecumbe was considered to be both unreasonable and harmful in its effects and asked that an independent and disinterested commission of enquiry investigate all the circumstances which had caused this ban to be imposed. The Minister for Lands, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, who received the petition, was both considerate and attentive in his hearing.

He explained, however, that although the delay in making a final decision might appear to the residents to be unduly great, yet everything which could be done to hasten the making of that decision had been put in train. The future drainage operations and their possible effect upon buildings already established—the suitability of other sites for a township both as to locality and general fitness; the question of any compensation which might be involved, and the matter of providing protection from flooding for any site chosen, were Mr Skinner said all subjects under consideration. Seeing that the Government had a serious responsibility its decision could not be made hastily. He gave his assurance that when that final decision had been made, no precipitated action would be taken, ■ but that the local residents would be apprised of what was to be done. They would then have the opportunity if they still desired it, to press for an enquiry as asked for under the petition.