LAND SALES DECISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1945, Page 3

LAND SALES DECISION

DEMAND FOR INCREASE. ' AUCKLAND, July. 24. Charged with attempting to induce William Blackburn, of Papatoetoe, to enter into . a transaction or arrangement that was intended to.be inconsistent with an application made under the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, Thomas Eccles, a retired labourer, of Papatoetoe, who pleaded not guilty, was fined £5O by Mi'. J. Morling, S.M., at Otahuhu. It was the first case of its kind to be heard in the Auckland province. The prosecution alleged that Eccles, who was the owner of a house and section in Papatoetoe, entered into an agreement with Blackburn to sell the property for £BOO, subject to the consent of the North Auckland Land Sales Committee. Before the hearing of the application by the Land Sales Committee the purchaser obtained Eccles’s permission to occupy the house pending the committee’s decision. The committee later fixed the basic value of the property, including £l2O for chattels, af £545. Evidence was given by Blackburn and his wife that after the committee’s decision Eccles said he would not sell at the basic value, and asked for payment of the £255 difference. They alleged that Eccles called on March 22 and told them they would have to find another place to live in. On April 21, Eccles had their effects put out on to the street. The defendant said that as soon as he was advised of the decision of the Land f?ales Committee he told Blackburn that the price was not acceptable, and that he would have to get out. He iater put the Blackburns out. He denied that’ he had attempted to induce •Blackburn to pay more than the basicvalue.