TAKAPUNA BOATING CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19393, 30 July 1926, Page 8

TAKAPUNA BOATING CLUB.

Sir, —The letter by Mr. A. H. Wilkio is astounding. Briefly the facts are as follow: —A lease was offered by the Auckland Harbour Board with a three months' notice of termination. This was refused by the club, as finances could not be satisfactorily arranged on such a lease. After much effort by the club j the Harbour Board o'Tered to transfer a S part of the foreshore to the council with j conditions. One condition was that a : part specified could be regranted to a ■ club for boating purposes; another was | that if the area was not used for swimming baths and clubhouses it immediately reverted to the board. A bill was prepared in which authority was given the board to transfer the area, and this bill passed Parliament in due course. The matter had been discussed, and a minute passed by the council records the unanimous vote to grant the title to the club, Mr. Wilkie and Mr. Suckling voting for it. In the delay that ensued a new council was elected, under Mr. Haydon as Mayor, and this council also recorded in favour unanimously to give title; inj deed, a transfer was prepared, sealed and the acting town clerk s signature affixed thereto, and awaited Mr. Haydon's signature. Another change of council to the present one, and the title question comes up and for the first time we find opposition by Mr. Wilkie and Mr. Williamson voting for postponement, and Mr. Suckling against granting. In justice to the latter he admitted his error during the council meeting. Mr. Wilkio avers that ho was looking after the ratepayers' interests in opposi g the redemption of the council's promise, because the sito might be needed for road widening purposes. Had Mr. Wilkie read the Act he would find that the area could not be taken even under the Public Works Act, for if not used for purposes of baths and clubhouses it must revert to tho Harbour Board, and I have yet to see his point in opposing the title. Mr. A. Slinger, the borough engineer, when asked his opinion, replied he had nothing to say. Now, if Mi> Wilkie thinks he can treat a promise as a "scrap of paper" hj« will find, as he did in the council, honest ratepayers ready to combat such conduct. 0. Moller. Commodore. Takapuna Boating Club, Bayswatei.