Rakaia rents 'fair’

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 5

Rakaia rents 'fair’

Protests from cottage owners at the Rakaia Huts against a 150 per cent increase in groun rente for their leasehold sections got little sympathy when they were considered at a meeting of the Ellesmere County Council yesterday. The objectors claimed that the rise in the council section rents was excessive in relation to the senices provided. “A rise to $5O a year in the rentals is reasonable. They’ve had the land for years at a pittance.” said the County Clerk (Mr G. R. Singleton). “Many of the signatories live at ‘good’ addresses in Christchurch, and 1 couldn’t see them renting their city properties at that price. It is a fair increase."

The council intended to freehold some land in the

nuts block and to carry out improvements at a cost of $4OOO to $5OOO, and the rentals would help pay for this.

There was a real demand for the leasehold sections, and the goodwill paid for the leases was fantastic, said Mr Singleton.

The chairman (Mr W. E. Walker) said that the council wanted proper control on town-planning lines.

When Cr D. 11. Goulden said some hut owners had not signed the petition, Cr P. J. Abbott said that others had signed it “to keep the peace.” Mr Singleton said that none of the properties would pay much more than $l5 a year in rates.

The council asked the staff to explain the position to the objectors.