WAIHI BEACH RESERVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22225, 27 September 1935, Page 12

WAIHI BEACH RESERVE

QUESTION OF CONTROL

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE

[«Y TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT! WAIHI, Thursday The removal of the control of the

Waihi Beach from the Waihi Borough Council, and the formation of a Waihi Beach Board, suggested in an unsigned circular posted to lessees of sections, was considered at the meeting of the borough council last evening. Reasons why the council should not approve of the change were given by the Mayor, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt.

The question arose when a letter was received from a resident of Frankton Junction, who said he was not ; n favour of giving control of the beach to a few interested and permanent residents who had ambitious ideas which would have to ho carried out at the expense of others. He believed .the council had done good work with the funds at its disposal. The Mayor said that the council was definitely opposed to the formation of a separate local authority to administer the affairs of the beach reserve, as it was of opinion that such a change would not be in the best interests of the lessees. The sotting up of a town board over such a small area with a fluctuating population was against the principles of local body government. "The circular sent out to lessees is misleading, in that it does not give sufficient details for a person not conversant with the facts to come to an impartial decision on the subject," said Mr. Wallnutt "It is stated in the circular that the revenue exceeds £IOOO a year. This is hardly correct; during the last three years the accounts show that the money received has exceeded £IOOO, but from that must be deducted items not re venue-producing. The circular states that the proposed new board would try to improve the tenure by increasing the lease from 10 to 21 years. This is a matter with which the council has no power to deal, as its leasing powers aro clearly sot out bv statute."