SALE YARDS LEASING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4404, 19 March 1941, Page 5

SALE YARDS LEASING

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE APPROVED.

MORE DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL. Further consideration to the leasing of the municipal sale yards at Te Awamutu was given by the Borough Council at a special meeting last Monday evening. The solicitors, in a letter to the Council, set out the conditions that would require to be observed in the conduct of the sale, the prior notice to be given, the conduct of the sale itself, and the terms attaching to the inauguration of the new lease or leases.

Generally, it was required that one month’s notification of the sale should be given, and that the new leases should become effective within six months of the holding of the sale.

“ That means that we shall have to rescind the resolution extending the term of the present lease until the end of the year,” said the Mayor (Mr G. Spinley). The clerk (Mr D. Bockett) proceeded to read the conditions of sale of lease of all stalls, stands, yards, enclosures—

The Mayor stopped him. “ I see Cr Montefiore is sound asleep,” he said. “ I don’t know whether he wants to listen to all this.”

An obligin- councillor thereupon clapped his hands loudly. “ It’s all right,” said Cr Montefiore. “ Carry on. I can listen.” The conditions were duly read and debated, the Mayor being directed to confer with the solicitors on one or two points as they arose in the discussion.

It was agreed that the sale be notified on Wednesday, 19th March, and that the sale be held on Wednesday, 23rd April, at 11 a.m. Cr C. J. Spiers moved that the new leases be dated to operate as from Ist October. That would be a convenient date and within the six months re quired by law. Cr J- C. Montefiore moved that the full six months be allowed, and that the present firms have the use of the yards until 23rd October. Cr Spiers: But wh- not start on the first of the month ? Cr Montefiore: We must give the firms all the reasonable time we can. They may have a lot to do. They may even have to build new yards. Cr Spiers: That is their own affair. We have shown them every considers tion, and we should consider the welfare’ of the ratepayers just a little. At this stage there was much discussion, groups around the table taking up various phases of the debate. Cr Spiers contended that the lease should start at the beginning of a month and not at any haphazard date. The solicitors had nominated Ist October, and it seemed perfectly reasonable.

The Mayor replied that the solicitors merely suggested a date. It was for the Council’s decision. He had studied the calendar, and as Ist October was a Wednesday it was hardly convenient for the change-over for a sale on the following day. His suggestion would be for the present lease to run out on Saturday, 18th October, and the new leases to start on Monday, 20th October. That would give a reasonable period between the sales. The clerk raised the question of future administration of a lease starting at the beginning of a mpnth compared with one at a broken date. It could have some complications. After some further discussion it transpired that two proposals had been made, but neither had a seconder. Cr Spiers: Well, I move that the new leases start on Ist October.

Cr L. S- Armstrong seconded. Cr Montefiore: As an amendment 1 move for 23rd October. Cr W. J. North seconded.

The Mayor pointed out that there was already a minuted decision for the present lease to be extended until the end of December. That would have to be rescinded. “ And who voted for that ? ” asked a councillor.

“ They all did,” replied the Mayor. Cr Spiers: Oh, no, they didn’t. J for one did not.

Cr Montefiore: But that doesn’t say you were right.

Cr Spiers: Nor does it say that yours was the best judgment. More general discussion ensued, and it, was questioned whether the amendment meant that the new leases would start on Monday, 20th October, as suggested by the Mayor, or on Thursday, 23rd October, as moved by Cr Montefiore. Eventually the voting was taken, and the amendment was carried, the Mayor and Crs Montefiore, North, Wallace, and Brown voting for it and Crs Spiers, Armstrong, and Sterritt adhering to Ist October.