BOROUGH RESERVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 20 June 1912, Page 6

BOROUGH RESERVES.

A SUGGESTION. I Mr G. Kilvingtoa recently wrote to ! the Hawera Borough Council as follows:—"I take the liberty of offering a siiggestion in connection with the j leasing of Borough Reserves, which, I i feel sure, you will be glad to impartially \ consider and act upon if you think it of value. It must, be evident to many i that the borough is not extending westward as rapidly as it might do. The cause may be largely due to the unfavorable terms of lease of the reserves opposite King Edward Park. I am, ot course, ignorant of the conditions of the leases, but it occurred to me that these may be similar to those of the city of Auckland. A city Councillor informed me that for a long time they had let their reserves on short leases, at ■fairly high rentals, but later decided to renew on long terms at low rentals, conditions being inserted providing for rates to be paid by.lessees on alf improvements. The Council reserved the right to renew the leases upon expiry, or take over at valuation. I was assured that this policy resulted in practically every section being built upon and a large increase of revenue resulted from the rates. It would appear possible to lease local reserves upon similar conditions and I think the borough would thus speedily acquire valuable assets in the shape of numerous dwellings, r&esidfes an increased revenue. On the General Committee's recommendation the letter was, at Wednesday night's meeting, referred to the Reserves Committee.