CITY'S ACTION CRITICISED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 28 September 1918, Page 8

CITY'S ACTION CRITICISED.

TOWN-PLANNING LEAGUE VIEW.

A discussion in regard to the recent negotiations between the City Council and the Dilworth Trust Board took place at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Town- ' Planning League. The president, Mr. 0. J. Parr, M.P., moved:-" That tins league considers it would be a public misfortune to lose the Remuera Sports Ground, and' respectfully urges the City Council to : take the necessary steps to acquire the ground." I Mr. Parr said that nearly two years ago 1 the private trustees, who held the lease of the ground for park purposes from the Dilworth Board— F. Earl and V. J. Larner—offered to transfer their leas 9 to the City Council for a nominal sum.. That action was due to the pressure of; war conditions, and also to a demand made upon the trustees by the City Council for £150 a year, as rales on the property.. This demand was made, although the| Remuera Road Board, from which the council had taken over the administration of the district, had exempted the property from rates. Unfortunately the Mayor refused the offer the lease to the city, and consequently the trustees surrendered' it to the- Dilworth Board. Possession of the lease would have given- the City Conncil and the public 30 years' tenure, and a decided vantage ground from which to bargain with the JDilworth Trust for the freehold. The position now was that the public had no rights whatever, and was at the mercy of the Dilworth Board. It w{,B true that football was not permitted under the lease, but this restriction was of little importance. The council would now have to face the altered position and pay a fair price for the freehold. *" The motion was carried.