Waimairi Land Deal Criticised

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 16

Waimairi Land Deal Criticised

Knowing that the City Council was endeavouring to purchase the Blank estate land, the Waimairi County Council went ahead and bought the 20 odd acres at a “fantastic” price, said Cr. P. J. Skellerup, chairman of the City Council reserves committee, yesterday.

He was commenting on a denial at the county council’s meeting that it had committed a breach of trust in paying £2OOO for the land when it knew the City Council had offered only £450.

When City Council representatives met representatives of the Waimairi council, they agreed to several requests of the county, he said. The most urgent request was that the City Council considered the transfer of a triangular piece of land of approximately 25 acres to the county so that it could enlarge Spencerville Domain. This matter had already been dealt with by the council and the memorandum of transfer was prepared, but execution was withheld until

these matters have been reconsidered. “I have no doubt that in the ultimate this transfer will proceed,” he said. “No Indication" At the joint meeting, the Waimairi representatives gave no indication that they were interested in the Blank estate area. “Surely the ethics of conduct between local bodies, which is usually extremely high, would call for such an indication in the public interest,” Cr. Skellerup continued.

“The county also asked the city to give consideration to the release of some land held for plantation purposes in the Styx riding of the county for development purposes, with the consequential result that the county would obtain more rates from that riding. These additional requests have met with preliminary approval by the city representatives, but as they are not urgent, they have not yet been submitted to the full meeting of the City Council. “At this stage, the council is disappointed that the county has entered into direct competition with it for the acquisition of some land contiguous to the city plantations and has asked the Waimairi County Council to arrange a further meeting at an early date so that all matters may be again reconsidered.

“Speaking as a ratepayer of Waimairi, I am curious to learn the purpose for which the area was purchased, as it has no road access. I would also like to know on what grounds Waimairi can justify the.price paid, £2OOO, when the Government valuation was only £295, and prior to Waimairi’s offer, the estate was preparing to accept the city’s offer of £450.” Replying to the Waimairi branch of Federated Farmers, Cr. Skellerup said that in no case had the city’s offer for land in the area been below Government valuation, and in no case, as yet, had the Public Works Act been invoked.

“The land, or sand in question, had no possible farming value other than for plantation purposes.”