PROBLEM OF LEASE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21646, 23 February 1945, Page 2

PROBLEM OF LEASE

DECISION ALTERED SCHOOL BOARD’S ACTION patutahi PROPERTY A decision to rescind a resolution which an area of land owned by it at Patutahi had been leased to one applicant, and to lease the property to another at the same rental, was reached by the Gisborne High School Board of Governors yesterday interneon. The lease is for 21 years and at the rate of £3 an acre. The chairman, Mr. L. T. Bernard, said that as required by statute the lease was put up .for auction last October after the expiry of a 2i -year period. It had been assessed at £3 an acre, but at an auction was knocked down to a bidder at .£5 ss. The Gisborne Land Sales Committee had not sanctioned the price and the board, acting on the advice of its solicitors, had agreed to grant a lease to a selected tenant. At its last meeting the board had decided to lease the land to the former tenant, who was also the -successful bidder at tilt auction, at £3 an acre. That decision Mr. Barnard added, had been made with no knowledge of the fact that another application had been received.

It was stated on behalf of the second applicant that he was 1 arming some 21 acres across the road from the board’s property and would be able to milk another 15 cows and run young stock, if he secured the additional acreage. At the auction his bid had been only Is less tiian the highest offer, lie was a married man with a family and was milking cows, whereas the other applicant used the land for sheep. “Proved a Good Tenant” The other applicant was said to have proved a good tenant. His solicitor had thought the matter tc have been concluded iast November when ho was given to understand tnat lie had again secured the lease. Th< land had been used by his family 101 some time and had always been wel. looked after. He was a single man "The question we have to ask ourselves is what system we are going to adopt for our leases." said Mr. Burnard. Mr. T. Todd: Public welfare. Mr. Burnard: Should we now advertise for all the deserving cases in Patutahi. or even a wider area? Mr. T. W. Sewell considered that the matter ought to be decided from ihe national point, ol view. Extra pigments and butterfat were required and these would be produced by the applicant who proposed using the land for dairying. After further discussion it was resolved. on the motion of Mr. J. H. Hall, seconded bv Mr. 11. P. Hamilton, that, subject to'the approval of the board's solicitors .the former resolution be rescinded and the lease be granted to the oilier applicant at £3 an acre. Mr. F. W. Nolan asked that his failure to vote be recorded.

Those present, at the meeting were the chairman. Mr. L. T. Burnard, and Messrs. F. \V Nolan. T. Todd. K. B. Garland, IT. P Hamilton. T. W. Sewell. E J. Poswillo. and J. IT. Hall. An apology for absence was received from Mr. E W. McEnnis.