State Not Bound By Land Act

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1945, Page 9

State Not Bound By Land Act

(Special) HAMILTON, This Day “The department has to get land for housing, and is not bound by the Act. In practice the department can exceed the 1942 values fixed by the Act,’ said Mr. W. Gordon, valuer for the State Housing Department, in evidence before the Hamilton Land Sales Committee yesterday. Mr. Gordon was supporting an application by the department for the approval of the purchase of a block of residential land, on which it proposed to erect a number of State houses.

He explained that the Department was compelled to induce landowners to sell suitable properties, and to do so it was necessary to pay more than the prices fixed for private purchases. “ASTOUNDING” The chairman (Mr. S. Lewis) commented: “This is an astounding position and new to the committee. Private purchasers might conceivably have need for a particular area, but not be able to effect a purchase because the vendors felt the land was worth more than the price fixed. Yet the State can legally pay more.” Mr. Gordon said in the case of the department it was a matter of an unwilling vendor and a desperate purchaser.

People were clamouring for houses, and to induce owners to sell the department had found it necessary in some cases to advance the price. In short, the department did not accept as the true' value 'what it had to pay for the areas on which it erected State houses.

After deliberation the committee granted the application at the Crown valuation.