FOR SETTLEMENT

Northern Advocate, 16 September 1932, Page 4

FOR SETTLEMENT

HARBOUR BOARD LANDS. SEVERAL SECTIONS AVAILABLE I.AND NEAR RAILWAY. j Following an inspection of areas of Harbour Board endowment laud, which, under the unemployment scheme, have been prepared for ■Gio settlement of married men now on relief works, the committee appointed by the Government, in conjunction with Mr McKinlay, land settlement officer of the Agricultural Department, has forwarded recommendations for the establishment of these men on seven sections. In order that the land will not be too heavily loaded with improvement costs,, the committee recommended that the labour necessary for erecting the buildings, fences, etc. be found by tlfd“board; under -Scheme No. 5. This suggestion, with reference to carpenters,, has been approved _by the Labour Department. It is expected that the material for the houses and fences will be made available in the near future. At the meeting of the Whangaroi Harbour Board today, the chairman reported having given consent to the seven ' sections, provisionally only on the consent of the whole board. Area Disputed. Vigorous opposition to the inclusion of two sections of a. total acreage of 17 acres, lying on either side of the Whangarei railway station, was raised by Mr J. E. Holmes. This was the only laud available for future sidings, and had. the greatest, potential value of any land owned by the board. Should times improve, .the board would be a heavy loser if the area, were tied up to an impecunious man working on relief. The chairman explained that in all the proposed leases, except those concerning Pohe Island, the board had the right of resumption after three months’ notice and payment for improvements. The leases were to the department, which would be responsible for the buildings. The terms were for 11 years, with the right of renewal ior .10 . years. . . Mr Holmes then moved, and it was seconded by Mr L. A. Johnson, that the other six leases, which., had previously been approved by the board, bo completed. Mr H, E. Hewlett, and Mr Holmes considered that the rights of the board were protected in every way, and that idle land in possession of the Harbour Board should ho developed - and made revenue-producing. The chairman shared the view with them that tlie area might not be required for railway extensions for 20 years, by which time the tenancy would, be expiring. • Provided unsightly buildings were not erected, Messrs D, E. Young and P. Gardner were not opposed to a satisfactory lease. The engineer said that the land would be useless unless stop-hanked. Mr Holmes said that these two sep-' arato properties had already been offered for lease, but to tie them up for an indefinite period yould ,bo utterly bad business. If buildings were erected by a Government department the board, would not be able to resume as suggested. The motion was carried, and Mr MeKinlay...will be instructed ..that the two sections fronting the station are definitely withdrawn.