WAIKANAE RESERVE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19338, 31 May 1937, Page 2

WAIKANAE RESERVE

USE OF RAILWAY LAND ■MINISTER SYMPATHETIC 30,000 CLUB DEPUTATION "If I were Minister of Railways, you could go aliend with" your scheme to-morrow. The lain! Would he at vour disposal at once. lam not the "Minister of Railways, but I will undertake to give my colleague, the Hon. D. Gi Sullivan, my personal ideas on the matter." stated the Hon. It. Somplc, Minister of Public Works, when approached by a deputation on Saturday evening regarding the "acquisition by public organisations of a section of land at Waikanae Beach for beautifying purposes. The deputation was organised by the Thirty-Thousand Club and the Gi.sborne and District Beautifying Association, and comprised Messrs. J as. Chrisp, W. Cave, G. T. Maunder, Ralph Morse, and D. G. Robertson, and Dr. A. L. Singer. Mr. Chrisp was spokes man-for the two societies, and asked the .Minister to use his influence to secure for them the area of land indicated, * which • Mr. Chrisp considered would not be required for railway work% -and could bo replaced by a reserve in another locality if necessary.-

Ho added that the Thirty-Thousand Clubland the Beautifying Association had approached several "Ministers on the subject, and had received most sympathetic answers. Tt was hoped that .when the Minister of Railways visited Gisborne the matter would he clinched, but. the associations were anxious that all members of the Cabinet should be. advised of the scheme. : ToTm-Planning Expert Mr. Chrisp also asked that the Government should grant the associa-tions-the services of the State townplanning expert, for a few days, to advise on the location and develop* ment;of plantations and reserves along the Coast road and iii Gisborne. Ho gavefthe Minister an explanation of the plans for improving the approaches to the town of Gisborne, and for making a centennial effort to establish a public park in the neighbourhood of the Cook Memorial. Mr* Semple expressed keen interest in the proposals, which he considered reflected much credit upon the two associations concerned. He did not consider that there would be any difficulty about getting the townplanning director to Poverty Bay for a week or two, though that request would have to bo relayed to another department, as also would that concerning the grant of land at Waikanae Beach.

Regarding the latter" request, lie stated that the associations could go ahead immediately if ho hart control of the land. Mr. Scmple promised that he would interview the Hon. "\V. E. Parry,'Minister of Internal Affairs, and tJio Hon; D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Railways, arid convey to them his views" on both matters.