MEMBERS SUPRISED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21933, 30 January 1946, Page 4

MEMBERS SUPRISED

PLANTATION CLEARING WORK DONE AT LOSS The fact that the net cost of clearing a plantation of trees on the Cook Hospital Board’s property after crediting all firewood sold and taken into stock was £2ll was the subject of surprised comment at yesterday’s meeting of the board. In reporting this, the managing secretary, Mr. C. A. Harries, stated that the value of firewood held, which was equivalent to a purchase not provided for. was £57. Several works had been undertaken that were not budgeted for. Mr. E. R. Black said that the grounds committee should have.the full figures for future guidance, as it was the committee which authorised the work. He said that it would be useless to comment without these full figures, though he remarked ii did strike him as curious that the plantation had no actual value, or even less than no value. Mr. J. B. Williams also considered that this matter should be investigated as the figures indicated a surprising position. The grounds committee had had only one meeting about this matter, Mr. H. H. Barker stated in supporting the two previous speakers. “We will have to consider what to do with the ground once it is finished.” he said, adding that it might be possible to put it into citrus trees and so recover part of the loss.