THE RECREATION GROUND QUESTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume V, Issue 766, 5 April 1884, Page 2

THE RECREATION GROUND QUESTION.

This matter came up at the last meeting of the Council. One of the Councillors having asked i£ anything had been done,

Mr. Daf£ said he should like to say a few words, but outside his position as a Councillor. At a previous meeting of the Council he had offered to allow the Council to go on to the land and plant it, and said he would put no obstacle in their way. The Council asked him to reduce his offer to writing. To that he had to reply he would not. If the Council did not like to take bis word, there need be no more said on the subject. The Borough solicitor had again neglected his duty, and the period for giving him (Mr. Duff) notice had gone by. However, the Council could to-morrow plant the land if they like, but he would not put his offer in writing.

The Mayor — Will you abandon your lease ?

Mr. Duff— Certainly not. If the Council think I am going to give up my lease they are mistaken. But I will allow the Council to go on and plant. What is the use of the land to them ? The whole thing arose out of petty spite.

Councillor Caplen said he had suggested that the offer should be put in writing, not because he doubted My. Duff's v.ovd, but because the Council as a body could only with safety act on their records. Unless the offer was in writing, the Council would have nothing to go upon.

Mr. Duff accepted Councillor Caplen's explanation ; but one member of the Council had insinuated to a friend of his (Mr. Duff) that he would not take his (Duffs) word on any consideration. Now, he challenged anyone to say that he had in his public or private positions ever broken his word. His word was always as good as his writing.

Councillor Winks thought the Council need be under no obligation to Mr. Duff, for it had power to take whatever it liked. As for accepting Mr. Duffs word, and going to plant on the strength of it, he should be very sorry to do bo. As one of a committee he could say that Mr. Duff had promised to take a certain sum, and that when that sum was offered to him he backed out of the arrangement. How he could come there and say he never went back from his word he (Councillor Winks) could not make out. If the time had again gone by for giving notice, they must merely resolve to look out sharper next time ; but he hoped the Council would never allow itself to be at the mercy of Mr. Duff.

Mr. Duff said there was recorded in the Borough offices a ltttev from him, which explained why he had dra^n out of that arrangement, but that letter had never been published That letter said that as Mr. King had given notice of a motion to lease the reserve to the cricket club, he declined to carry out his offer for he said that his offer was contingent on the Council agreeing to keep the reserve for the public. Why should they take the land from him and give it to someone else.

Councillor Winks denied the correctness of Mr. Duff's statement. The arrangement had no condition attached to it. Mr. Duff was simply to receive so much money and give up the land. Mr. Thomson, then Councillor, and a member of the committee, could prove that.

Councillor Adauison gave his recollection of the affair, and said the conclusion he came to was that Mr. Duff was trying to humbug the Council. Mr. Dvn 0 said he did not think it necessary to reply to such remarks. He was not afraid of his reputation being injured by them. The Mayor said it seemed to him that Mr. Dnff had shown childish obstinacy in refusing to give up the lease because Mr. King had done something. The council had no power to give the cricket club a lease. (Mr. Duff — I did not know that at the time.) He thought that if Mr. Duff had given the lease up quietly at that time, it would have been as well. The lease could not be of very much value to him.

Mr. Duff said he was quite willing to come to terms, but he was not going to be bounced.

The Mayor — That is it ; you get your back up. As Councillor Caplen has pointed ont, nothing can be done uitil you put your offer in writing. After further discussion it was finally resolved to appoint the Mayor and Councillor Caplen a committe to see 'f terms could be made with Mr. Duff.