AREA FOR PARK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25170, 6 April 1945, Page 6

AREA FOR PARK

ACQUISITION PBOPOSEP MORE LAND AT AVONDALE The acquisition for recreational purposes of a further area of at least 20 acres at Avondale is to be sought by the City Council, according to a decision in ado at a meeting last night. The area is at the eastern corner of Rosebank Road and Avondale Road East and was acquired by the Government for defence' purposes about two years ago when the American naval hospital was being erected. Attention to the area had been drawn by a correspondent who said it had many advantages over a portion of the Avondale racecourse which the council was proposing to acquire. Ihe land adjoined the Avondale High School and was practically flat. It could be developed easily, had sewer drainage available arid was in portion of the district that was being rapidly expanded as a residential suburb. The Parks Committee reported that it had inspected the area and recommended that, the Government be requested to vest it in the council as a reserve for recreational purposes, the council to undertake immediate development. It was also suggested that the member of Parliament for the district, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, be asked to assist in the negotiations. The recommendations were adopted. DEVELOPMENT OF RESERVES HOUSING SUBDIVISIONS Proposals adoptqd tentatively by the Municipal Association of New Zealand to meet the problem of delays by local bodies in forming reserves set aside out of Crown housing areas were received at a meeting of the City Council last night. The question >vas originally raised by the Housing _ Construction Department which had pointed out that in some cases tenants were in occupation before any adequate recreational facilities had been provided. The town clerk, Mr T. W. M. Ashby, said the proposals would require the Crown to do the rough development work and to dedicate the reserves to the local body, and the local body for its part would undertake to complete the development so that the reserves would be available when, the subdivisional area was occupied by Crown tenants.

"The matter is of some interest to the City Council and, in principle, would seem to apply not only to Crown subdivisions but to private subdivisions where a reserve is set aside." Mr Ash by added. "Indeed, there seems to be no substantial variation from the principle involved in the roading of subdivisions to a Certain standard before dedication is to be accepted. There is, however, 110 legislation at present requiring reserves to be formed, although the matter of formation of roads prior to dedication is adequately covered by statute."

The question was deferred for a report.

SALE OF BUSINESSES ,

PROTECTING SERVICEMEN SUGGESTIONS CONSIDERED The existence of a racket in the sale of .small businesses at exorbitant prices to unsuspecting purchasers was alleged in a letter from the executive committee of the Meal Estate Institute, considered by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The committee proposed that business agents should be licensed the same as land agents. At present, a licence was not required for the sale of businesses, and cases had come to the knowledge of members of the committee in which exorbitant prices had been charged. In one instance, a small confectionery business had been sold for £4OO, a little later for £7OO, and then for £9OO without any appreciable change having taken place in the business. A committee report on the subject .said that the general committee of the Services Contact Centre had suggested that agents conducting sales -of businesses should be licenced, and that sales of businesses should be subject to review by a tribunal. The committee of the chamber considered that these suggestions would not either separately or in combination lie an effective deterrent. It recommended that officials of the Services Contact Centre and of the returned services organisations should advise any servicemen proposing to purchase a business, that the Real Estate Institute be asked to submit details of every proposed sale to the Returned Services Association, and the Services Contact Centre, and that the centre be asked to institute proceedings where it is satisfied that an exorbitant price has been obtained by misrepresentation.

Members expressed concern that returner] men should be protected as far as from exploitation of this type, and it was agreed to refer the matter back to the executive to report to the council. DEATH OF SCULPTOR MR W. H. FELDON ihe death occurred yesterday of Mr William Henry Feldon, aged 74. a sculptor well known throughout New Zealand /or his works. Born at Oxford. imn ' ie came *° Zealand in I.JIO and took up residence in the Remuera district, where he had lived ever since. Many of Auckland's buildings of a few years ago were adorned with his carving and modelling, which bore testimony to his ability in his profession. In many other townships throughout the Auckland Province there are memorials of the Great War designed and executed by Mr Feldon. In 1931 he completed a life-size statue of the iate Sir Joseph Ward in white marble. That study completed the set of three life-size statues for the post office square in Tnvercargill,# the other two being representations of Lord J'ellicoe and Lord Kitchener.

T' rofli an early age Mr Feldon was • keenly interested in a military career and held a commission i»i a volunteer artillery regiment in the South of Ensland. On the outbreak of the 1914-TR war lie joined the New Zealand milil tnrv forees and served in various administrative positions. As a member of the Order of Freemasons. Mr Feldon rose to the highest offices of the craft. For many years he was a licensed layreader of the Church of England. Mr Feldon is survived by two sons and three daughters. His wife died about four years ago. WATERWORKS EXTENSION NEGOTIATIONS FOR LAND A decision to open negotiations for the purchase of SR2 acres in the Moumoukai Valley, flunua Ranges, for the purposes oi waterworks extensions was made at a meeting of the City Council last night. Ihe property was offered bv the executors of a deceased estate, the price asked being £8 an acre. The waterworks engineer, Mr A. D. Mead, considered the price much too high, and on his recommendation it was decided to obtain a valuation before op&ning negotiations. STREET MEETINGS Permission to hold street meetings on Sunday afternoons in Victoria Street West, near Queen Street, was granted to the Auckland branch of the Communist Party by the City Council last night. A request for authority to use a loud-speaker at the meetings was declined.