Maori Battalion Camp

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 279, 25 November 1939, Page 9

Maori Battalion Camp

terms of showgrounds TENANCY The offer of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association’s grounds for occupation by the Maori Battalion for four months from January 18, the j grounds to be vacated by May 18, 1940, has been verbally accepted by the Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary following a discussion with j Mr. M. A. Elliot, treasurer of the I association, in Wellington. A grant of £250 is to be made by the authorities as compensation for the tenancy. Mr. Eliott stated yesterday that the Defence Department was quite happy with tho arrangement. If the Maori Battalion is despatched for service overseas, it will complete its training at its destination, but, if it is to remain in the Dominion longer than May, the concluding stages of its instruction w T ill be taken in some other part of tho country. Mr. Eliott recalled that tho original request had been for the use of the ground for a period of six months from the middle of November. These dates would have fitted in between the Spring and Winter Shows. The association then asked for compensation for actual loss of revenue in sight, amounting to over £SOO for the above period. The sum of £SOO was reduced to £250 in consideration of an urgent request from the Chamber of Commerce and its promise of support of a sports day to be held on the racecourse, in which. tLe Maori Battalion would take part. The next stage in the negotiations was reception of advice from tho Defence Department that the date of commencement of the camp had been postponed till Jauuary, and that it .still wanted the ground for a period of four to six months from January 18. The association replied that this would encroach on the Winter Show, its chief source of revenue. The questions then arose: (a) Could the show be postponed! (b) Could the battalion vacate i the ground for, say, three or four weeks and come back after the show was over? The association decided that postponement df the Show would have very serious financial consequences and that such a course was almost impossible. However, the offer of the ground for £250 still held good, provided it was vacated by May 18. Mr. Eliott interviewed the secretary of the Defence Department on Wednesday, and after a telephone conversation with the Minister a verbal acceptance of the offer was given. Various conditions regarding the use of the show plant, alterations and additions to buildings, sewerage, water, lighting, etc., have all been discussed and agreement reached subject only to official confirmation. One of the conditions is that any damage must be made good and that the property is to be left in the same condition as when it was first occupied.