"GISBORNE ON THE GRAB"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17152, 30 September 1926, Page 7

"GISBORNE ON THE GRAB"

A NAPIER COMPLAINT ATTEMPT TO FILCH WATROA Two years ago the Gisbornc people attempted to have Wairoa, and the country down to the Mohaka river, in- . eluded in the Poverty Bay district for land administration purposes, remarks the Napier Telegraph. h Their application to the Minister of Lands was unsuccessful, however, as. the department intimated that it could see no reason why a change of boundaries should be effected. Amongst other protests at the time against the mooted change was a very emphatic one from the Wairoa Chamber of Commerce, making it palpably obvious that the Wairoa people desired no change in the provincial jurisdiction. Gisborue has now made another attempt to gain its ends, and recently a deputation from the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. MeLeod, with the request that there should be included in the Poverty Bay district the area of land extending from the existing boundaries down to the Mohaka river, which means, of course, that Wairoa and the surrounding districts would become part of Poverty Bay. A NAPIER PROTEST This time a strong protest is coming from the Napier Chamber of Commerce. That body has wired to this effect to the Minister of Lands and stated that a strong protest, incorporating the reasons for it, will be sent in due course. Apart from the sentimental point of view, the mooted change, if it took place, would create, much confusion and inconvenience to Hawke's Bay people who had interests in the Wairoa district. All registrations of land, etc., and other matters affecting land in the Wairoa district, would have to take place in Gisborne instead of at Napier as at present. Deeds, titles and other legal paraphernalia would have to be taken to Gisborne and many business firms with branches in Wairoa, and headquarters in Napier, would have to conduct the legal transactions, as affecting Wairoa interests, through Gisborne channels. Then again, too, Hawke 's Bay would lose the scenic attributes that abound round Wairoa and tourists would be touring Poverty Bay scenic resorts intend of Hawke's Bay beauty spots. *'To sum up," said Mr. A. Hobson. president of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, "the change, if it took place, would be enhancing Poverty Bay to the detriment of Hawke's Bay."