Too Late To Reserve Weaver Area For Sport

Northern Advocate, 4 June 1947, Page 4

Too Late To Reserve Weaver Area For Sport

The question of reserving the Weaver property as a sports area was again before the Whangarei Borough Council last night.

Last month the council decided to ask the Housing Construction Department what stage negotiations for the property had reached as representations for acquisition of the area as a recreation ground had been made to the council which desired to investigate the position. Before the council last night was a letter from the Whangarei Returned Services’ Association which asked it to consider favourably the reservation of the area and the formulation of immediate local legislation to prevent further permits being issued for in-

dustrial and residential buildings of a permanent nature.

A reply was received from the department’s district supervisor, Auckland, who asked that it should be treated as confidential.

Engineering plans lor the development of the block were submitted by the department to the council for approval. Concrete paths had been specified but if cement was not available an alternative specification for sealed paths was included for approval. The borough engineer (Mr I. A. Cromie) recommended the council not to agree to the alternative sealed footpaths and that the department should be asked to undertake t<? concrete footpaths when cement was available. The Mayor (Mr W. Jones) said he had come to the conclusion that 40 or 48 houses on the property would be more valuable than reserving it for recreation.

Cr S. J. Snow said that the area would have been a great acquisition to the town as a recreation area, but he thought it was now too late to act. The area without the high school grounds would be too small, Cr M. W. Porter considered.

To take the land would cost a great deal of money, said the Mayor.

“HIDING BEHIND WORD"

It was decided to advise the association that while the council realised the desirability of the property as a playing area, negotiations had reached such a stage that it could not take any further action.

The council adopted the engineer’s report on the question of footpaths.. Referring to the department’s confidential letter Cr J. F. Johnson said the officer in charge was hiding under the word “confidential" to avoid any Unpleasantness between the department and the people who wanted the area for recreational purposes. He considered the officer concerned was grossly unfair. There were plenty of areas where building could be carried out without any threat that house-building would cease if the Weaver property work was suspended.

Cr C. J. Homer considered there was nothing in the letter to which exception could be taken. The letter was received.