AN ASHBURTON REQUEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14191, 13 October 1906, Page 7

AN ASHBURTON REQUEST.

PROPOSED SALE OF A RESERVE. [From Our Correspondent, 1 WELLINGTON, October 12. With tho object of obtaining legislative authority for the disposal of about four acre® of land in. Ashburton, the former site of the Old Mon’;? Home, Mr Hugo Friedlander (chairman of the Canterbury Charitable- Aid Board) and Mr T. C. Norris (secretary) interviewed the-Minister of Public Health (the Hon G. Fowlds) this morning. They were introduced by Mr G. Witty, M.H.B. Mr Friedlander stated that the Board decided to obtain legislative authority far tho disposal of certain land a under circumstances which had rendered them of no further use for the purpose for which they were originally acquired. The Board held a block of over four acres, bounded on all sides by pub-, lie streets, and had no ur© for it. The land had been surveyed and subdivided into most convenient sections' of from a quarter-acre to a three-quarter-acre, for residential purposes, and the Board had made every effort to sell leases under the provisions of the Act, hut had been unable to dispose of a single section, although tho ground rentals wore fixed at very low upset prices. Consequently, a most valuable town property remained unproductive. The Board, therefore, asked for power to sell the land, tire proceeds to go towards the repayinent of the money borrowed to build the new- Home, or the extension of the legitimate objects of the institution.

Mr Friedlander added, in reply to the Minister’s questions, that the money which would ha derived from the sale, of the land, about £4OOO br £SOOO, would go towards reducing the mortgage upon the present buildings. Tho Minister: The Government practically made yon a present' of the site for the Old Men’s Home. \ Mr Friedlander: Wo did not pay for it. i

Mr Norris: It had Been a- police reserve, and the Commtesioner consented to waive his right. The Minister': Why should h© not get the other site for a police reserve? Mir Norris: They do not want it. There ifi no need for police in Ashburton now.

Mr Fowlds promised to lay the proposal' before the Cabinet.