HARBOUR BOARD LEASES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 82, 18 March 1933, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD LEASES.

It is to be hoped that, so far as practicable, the representations recently made to the chairman of the Napier Harbour Board by the Relief Workers’ Association wiil receive the sympathetic consideration promised. At the same time there is one feature in the Board’s dealing with its endowment land that does not seem to be receiving the attention it requires. That is the possibility that at least some of the land being offered on lease for agricultural purposes will come within the residential and industrial area of the town earlier than seems at present to be expected. Particularly in view just now is the area of some 21 acres lying between the Taradale road and the railway embankment. According to the Board’s advertisement this is being offered, in sections of about five acres each, on lease for a first term of seven years with what looks like a right of perpetual renewal at valuation for successive terms of twenty-one years. It .would seem to us that, if the town of Napier goes ahead as rapidly as we all hope it may, then this area will in all likelihood be wanted for the purposes mentioned before the expiry of the first 21-year term, or at any rate by the time it runs out. Would it not therefore be a wise precaution to make provision, in such case, for its resumption upon payment of fair compensation for improvements effected by the lessee as an agricultural tenant? Such a provision would be as much in the interests of the town as of the Harbour Board, which might otherwise find itself unable to resume excepting on some extravagant basis of compensation.