THE DEVONPORT RESERVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12910, 5 July 1905, Page 4

THE DEVONPORT RESERVE.

Mr. Alison has lost no time in bringing the plan of the Devonport Council for the seizure of the Triangle recreation reserve before the Postmaster-General. Sir Joseph Ward has noticed the local opposition to the proposal, and is awaiting the Post Office report. But whatever that report may be, we would urge upon the notice of Sir Joseph Ward, and of every other member of the Cabinet, the fundamental error of these confiscatory propositions. All recreation reserves in new countries are set aside with a view to future requirements, and an frequently ignored for a time by the public of the day. This indifference, however, does not diminish the importance of holding all such reserves against violation, for as population increases every vacant plot in our cities and centres must become more and more valuable. What was easy to obtain in the first place, and could always have been easily held, becomes, if forfeited by the shortsighted policy of thoughtless local authorities, exceedingly difficult, and almost impossible, to replace. We maintain, therefore— are absolutely confident that in this public opinion, when aroused, is almost unanimously with us—that under no circumstances whatever should local authorities advocate or Parliament sanction any sale or surrender of recreation reserves. For there are such influences always at work to filch, bit by bit, the public domains which, hardly noticed now, will be valued as inestimable in the future, that we cannot afford to palter with the question, and must resist every such attempt until the uselessness of making them becomcs apparent. Particularly must we resist such an attempt as is being made in Devonport, for which the only argument that can be put forward is that by selling part and appropriating part of the Triangle reserve the Council will be in pocket, and will be saved the trouble of finding another site for some public buildings. And who will pay? Devonport will pay for all time by the loss of its most prominent open space, a payment which a poll of the residents would certainly reject by an overwhelming majority.