STEWART’S GULLY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25248, 29 July 1947, Page 4

STEWART’S GULLY

Sir, —D. McDonald says that Kainga residents pay double the £2 ground rent in county rates. I think he should learn the. facts before making such a statement. Kainga people pay county rates according to the value of their property. Their £2 a year includes water rates. The road is tar-sealed, and the facilities superior, to those at Stewart’s Gully. The Catchment Board does not demand sub-letting fees if houses are let or lent, or commissions when they are sold. It is quite apparent that D. McDonald has not read his agreement, or else he has a different one from most tenants, as there is no clause relating to sub-letting fees in any agreement I have seen. I have heard that agreements have been altered to suit certain tenants, so perhaps he is one of the favoured few. It would be very interesting to see this agreement of his.—Yours, etc., EX-TENANT. July 27, 1947.

Sir, —The fact that F. Morgan and D. McDonald profess to be satisfied with the conditions at Stewart’s Gully does not mean that they are ideal. The weight of evidence against the proprietors’ actions and the sympathy for the tenants expressed by the Waimairi County Council must tell the true story. Because only a minority of the tenants have publicly expressed their opinions it does not mean that the majority are satisfied.—Yours, etc., ' RIPE. July 28, 1947.

Sir,—lt is reassuring to know that your correspondent, D. McDonald, is thoroughly satisfied with conditions at Stewart’s Gully, but when he says that Kainga residents have by no means the same facilities as Stewart’s Gully tenants, he is apparently quoting the opinion of one not in possession of the facts. Every Kainga residence has electricity and water laid on. A tarsealed road runs past the settlement. Two milkmen deliver milk daily, there being no restriction in the number of tradesmen allowed to call. As for Kainga sections, they are bigger, and the soil is better. Referring to the annual fees paid at Kainga, county rates vary according to the values of properties, but I know one resident whose total ground lease charges plus county rates amount to only £2 16s a year. Does this “more than double the lease payment” as your correspondent alleges?—Yours, etc. SILVER POPLARS. July 28. 1947.

Sir, —Why can’t the settlers of Stewart’s Gully have the same privileges as the people of Christchurch in their choice of vendor? Is the Christchurch City Council the authority to see that more than one milk seller has the right to sell milk there? Many of the tenants are anxious for this just benefit. Perhaps Mr Huggins would answer this.—Yours, etc., M.N. July 25, 1947. [“Fail- Play” may, if he wishes, briefly reply; otherwise this correspondence is closed.—Ed.. “The Press.”]