GEAR ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 8

GEAR ISLAND

(To the Editor.)

Sir,-— I wonder if lam labouring under a misapprehension. lam a ratepayer in the Hutt river district and I was under the impression that the ratepayers of that district owned Gear Island and had elected a board to, among other things, control it in their interests.

I notice quite a lot of people have lately been acting as if they had some rights over the island, the Petone Borough councillors and the Lower Hutt Borough councillors, some sports bodies in Wellington City and now lastly the Wellington City Council.

If reports are correct the Wellington City Council has taken upon itself to instruct the River Board as to what it ought to do. Can you say by what authority these various m organisations are acting?

I have read an Act, with which I thoroughly agree, that gives the Hutt River Board the power, if it so desires, to 'develop .the ground as a sports and recreation area. I think every ratepayer in the Hutt river district agrees with that Act, but I cannot find one word in that Act which makes it compulsory for the board to so develop the island, much less can I find any justification for any other local body of. any sports body inside or outside the district, to "butt in." I wonder how the City Council would view an instruction, from the Hutt River Board about the administration of the Wellington town belt or, say, the Basin Reserve. I am sure the ratepayers have full confidence in the Hutt River Board to administer, in their interests, the property ! purchased with ratepayers' money. , ■. If I might presume to give advice. I would say to these people, "Mind your own business" at any rate till you as efficiently manage it as the Hutt River Board does its affairs.—l am, etc.,

FART. OWNER.