The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1900. THE POST OFFICE SITE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 226, 19 November 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1900. THE POST OFFICE SITE.

A good deal of discussion has taken place during the past weak regarding the site for the new Fast Office, and the action of the Borough Council in fixing the price for the section at the corner of Egmont and King-streets at £4OOO. As far as we;can see, the discussion is confined to two parties, viz., those who are anxious to see the new Post office ereoted on this site end those who desire to see the present building enlarged. The former are loud in their denunciation of the Borough Council because they fear thai, unless the Government are very anxious to build a new office, the large expenditure required will have the effect of indefinitely postponing the i erection of a new office. Those opposed to the removal, on the other hand, rejoice at so good an excuse being given to the Postal Department for refusing to proceed with the erection of a new building. Between the two, the real position of the Borough Council appears to have been lost sight of. In asking the Council to put a value on the section, that body has, it appears to us, been placed in a rather unfortunate position. If they put a high value on the section they are placod in the position of trying to block the erection of the building and if a low value of-saerificing the interest; of the Burgesses to please those whe .are anxious to see the new Post Office erected on the site in question. Undei the circumstances the Council is we think, to be congratulated on the busi-ness-like way in which the matters has been dealt with. The Borough Conner in dealing with the property of th< Borough is placed in the position ol trustees and no matter how anxious each member may personally be to for ward any particular object his firsl duty is to the ratepayers of th< Borough. In this case the question the members of the Council have t< consider is not the desirability of t new Post Office and the securing th< expenditure of a certain sum of publii money in the town; bat what is th< real market value of the property ol tho ratepayers they are askad to dis pose of 2 Tao Oouacil appear to hav< bam agreed thai; £4OOO w.is the lowasi value they could put on tho soction There were members of the Counci who argued that £SOOO was not tot much, but after cosiderable discusaioi the pricu was fixed at the lower gum We are not cillcrl upon to chailengi this value. It appears to have beet arrived at after very careful consider* tion of the revenue the ratepayer! could expect to derivo from the sectioi if retained in the hands of- the Council iThis wps sot down, i! the land was \a for a period of 21 years, at £143 for tb< first 7 years, £176 for the second \ years, and £206 for the third 7 years This represents an average of £175 pei annum for the wholo period of 21 year: or 3g per cent, on the value of J§00( which several of the members of thi Council were disponed to insist upon liiSteud of railing at tho Council win are placed in their pwsent position, ti protect tho interest of tho ratepayers . those anxious to s«e the now Pus Office drected, should take tho propc to challenge the valuation, ami ithis.roaiiids ua ai | clwir that tho ( loun'jii ca.u legally sVi [the situ in question, bat wo have bo j gone into thai, lieuuiSa as it is proposw i to sell to tho Government, douotlass R' ■ enabling Bill noulii be p»„-sed,if n?ces " ,'sary, to legalise the sale. In themeai: |i time, there is no reason why an inds i j pendent valuation ssHouid aot be wsfr. ) or what is far butter. Government cm '- ptooßud w acquire tho situ uuhi th S Public Works Act, under which iher t i is proper machinery provided for ar ""; living at the value of lands require' "' jiw pWio purposes. aSfy w« (widei

is by far the most satisfactory method, as it relieves the members of the Council of a serious responsibility and from any imputations of being actuated by self-interest.