LEASE GRANTED TO SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 24536, 10 September 1941, Page 4

LEASE GRANTED TO SOLDIERS

Extensions Planned To Club Rooms A decision to grant the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association a lease of the section at the rear of the club rooms and adjoining St. John’s Hall was reached by the City Council last night. It was explained that the association needed more land for the expansion of its buildings and it desired to acquire an additional area adjoining its present premises. The Finance Committee submitted the following report:—“The committee has again conferred with the president and other representatives of the Returned Soldiers’ Association who have a plan showing the suggested position of the proposed building on the section. The association desires a long lease at a nominal rental and on similar lines to that of the section it already occupies on the corner of Deveron and Esk streets. Legislative authority would be necessary to enable the section to be leased and the estimated cost, including advertising, is £10.” ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS Dr A. W. Owen-Johnston, president of the association, waited on the council and explained that the present accommodation at the club rooms was inadequate and was causing some concern. Soldiers would probably be returning in large numbers from the present war at an early date and the association would be called on to do a great deal for their benefit. It was essential that the buildings should be extended and that could not be done without acquiring more land. If the council would grant a lease of the adjoining section it would be possible to centralize the activities and avoid the provision of offices in another part of the city. The association had written to the vestry of St. John’s Church and had received a reply that the vestry had no objection to the association occupying the section adjoining St. John’s Hall. In reply to a question by the DeputyMayor (Cr. A. Wachner), Dr OwenJohnston said the association would make provision for returned nurses in any building plan. Cr. F. A. Webb, chairman of the Finance Committee, moved that the council approve of the suggestion that the land be made available to the Returned Soldiers’ Association on the same terms as the present lease. It was explained by the town, clerk (Mr W. F. Sturman) that the section occupied by the club rooms and bowling green had been granted on a lease for 21 years at a rental of 1/- a year. LONGER LEASE Cr. R. T. Parsons suggested that the present lease be extended to 99 years and that the new section be granted on the same terms. He said that the provision of useful buildings for the veterans of the war would be a more fitting monument than any pile of stone such as had been erected after the last war. Mr Sturman said that any lease granted by the council would have to receive legislative approval and it might be difficult to secure approval to a 99-year lease. If at the end of 21 years the association wished to continue occupation of the land, it was unthinkable that the council at that time would refuse to grant an extension. The motion was carried.