Gully Residents Resist Eviction

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 18

Gully Residents Resist Eviction

Residents of Stewarts Gully faced with an eviction order will not quit their homes. A meeting of about 60 Gully residents last eveing decided to stay on, and to ask the manager of Stewarts Gully Holdings, Ltd (Mr B. Philbrick), to withdraw his eviction notices.

The meeting agreed to give Mr Philbrick “every opportunity” to discuss the matter further. The eviction notice* were served when residents refused to pay an extra $2B to the company for administration and maintenance of the land. Their stand is being supported by the Waimairi County Council, which has decided to safeguard the interests of its ratepayers in the area. Yesterday the riding member (Cr A. A. Adcock) telegraphed the member of Parliament for Rangiora (Mr H. E. L. Pickering) to seek his support to bring about negotiations with the company. Mr Philbrick has refused to meet residents. Last evening Cr Adcock

said Mr Pickering had replied, promising his full support Speaking after the meeting Cr Adcock said that residents in the Gully faced a financial , loss, and lacked security under the present arrangement ! He said they had built their homes on the land through the years as a place where they eould retire. Now they found they had no security, even if they accepted the new terms. The new terms lasted for only five years, and after that the matter would start over again. “There are more pensioners living in Stewarts Gully than are accommodated in county pensioner flats,” said Cr Adcock. “Most of the residents are pensioners, and if , they are evicted the county will not be able to accommo-; date them.”