COMMON GROUND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20860, 12 August 1942, Page 2

COMMON GROUND

KAITI BEACH AREA

NOTICE TO SHACK OWNERS A motion to delay the execution of the Gisborne Borough Council’s intention to order the removal of shacks from the council’s property on Kaiti Beach was defeated at last night’s council meeting. Prior notice had been given by Mr. H. H. De Costa to move that the resolution at the previous meeting to refuse a renewal of the present tenancies after the end of September be rescinded, and this was formally moved by him last night and seconded pro. forma by Mr. G. Bradley Smith. When the vote was taken, however. Mr. De Costa was the only one to vote for the motion. Mr. De Costa.said that the time was inopportune to order the removal of the shacks, and the proposal should bo deferred until six months after the war. lie did not. oppose their removal, but the council should consider the present housing shortage. Xlis motion was really a war measure. There was a similar shortage of houses in 1936, when a similar motion by him was successful. Dr. ,A. L. Singer said it appeared that no time would be opportune to do anything unless a firm stand was taken. The nresent was a more opportune time than any to take action to remove the shacks, because the younger people who made use of the shacks mainly were away at the war. Mr. De Costa: But their families are still there. • Dr Singer said the beach should have' been freed of the shacks a long time ago for more public use. Mr. G. J. Jeune said' that, if the matter was put off much longer some other excuse would offer itself. Mr. Do Costa did not know the circumstances of the people round on the beach, so why “this Sentimentality” now? Mr. Jeune added that if any person could show genuine hardship the case would be considered, but in some instances shacks had been re-let at a goodly profit. One of Best Picnic Spots

Mr. J. H. Hall also opposed the motion, and said apparently Mr. Dc Costa had moved it merely out of stubbornness. Mr. De Costa had always opposed the removal of the shacks. Should the people of Gisborne be deprived of one of the best picnic spots in the district just to satisfy a few owners of shacks? On principle the nosition should not be tolerated anv longer than possible. The Mayor. Mr. N. H. Bull, said that the reasons put forward by Mr. De Costa were not sufficient for the council to alter its decision. The property was common ground for any person to use. The councils of the past had made that common ground into private ground for the benefit of a very small percentage of the people. In principle that appeared to him to be quite wrong. The council would not like to disturb people from their quasi rights of. the .past, .but in present times of restricted transport the necessity, .for an easily accessible beach became all the more pressing. Mr. De Costa had not placed any facts regarding wartime -hardship befoio them, but opposed, to that, wartime conditions had made the removal of the shacks even more desirable. Mr. De Costa said that years-ago Kaiti Beach . was .one of the finest picnic grounds in Gisborne, but now Waikanae Beach attracted the crowds. The motion- was defeated, only Mr. Do Costa voting for-ftcr. rr.