LOCAL BODY LEASES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2130, 23 April 1914, Page 6

LOCAL BODY LEASES

HARBOUR BOARD DISCUSSION

Correspondenco. from the ■Wellington Leaseholders' .Association tins before tho Harbour Hoard last evening, cover- j ing a copy of a letter forwarded' by ttto association t<) the Miijw, suggesting tho setting up oi a staall independent commission to inqnire into ihe tjircstion of municipal leases. On the- motion of the chairman (Jlr. R. Fletcher) it was decided, by way of reply* to forward to the Leaseholders' Association a copy of the following resolution passed by the board in. May last year:—"That i this board is prepared t<s support tho association in. its request for a commission of inquiry with a view te sorao more equitable form of lease being prepared, such commission's report, when issued, to bo submitted to tli-o biaJd for its coiisideratioli and aj>)MOval." Strong exception lo this ceurse was taken by 51r. A. H. Hindmarsh, who contended, that it was 'tantnniount H-o taking sides against another public body. He liiaintaincd. that _ tlio perpetual leaso with revaluation every fourteen years was equitable. . Mr. C. W. Jones Considered thai tho board should arrange its offit leases independently. Tho chairman anti other mofnfoMs, however, tool; ilio viow that tho Harbour Board {ii«l s cemmon Interest witli tbn City Council in this matter, since both bodies in tlveir leasing transactions were governed tiy the samo Act. Mr.' R-. "A. Wridit said that it ec-nmeil to him absolutely necessary in take some notice of wl'.al was on. .Ilio board had !aml wSiinls it was willing to Iciase, and W ■"•'> ; rli *i»m-r> was no visible dcitiaml. Ife ngrewS that a local , body simuM gftt tho best return possible from its endowin-enia, but tho fact could not Ijo ignored tliat Hip occupwrs of srsme corporation leaseliolds nhout to fall in intended to go elswheie. The cltnifman said tliat some board leaseholds were also being: .surrendered. In tho end Mr, fjimlinarsti nlone voted against the chairman's iuolioß.