CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1930, Page 14

CORRESPONDENCE

PUKEKURA PARK FEES. < (To the Editor). Sir, —My good friend, Mr. W. 11. Hawkins, has been asking about fees obtained for the park from the British football match. Such persistency deserves reward. The Rugby Union could, perhaps, have given the information, but the sportsground committee are the people responsible. As a member of that body I am at liberty to say that the Rugby Union have the sportsground for the winter months at £240 per annum for this, year and next year. This amount covers their liability for the British football match. . The question of Rugby Union fees for the use of the sportsground has been a debatable one for some years, and the matter discussed very fully early this year when the possibility of the British match being played here was known. The amount payable by the Rugby Union for 1030 and 1931 is much above the average paid to the sportsground for ‘some years, and , compensates for the extra takings of this particular match. I might say the amount charged the Rugby Union was not agreed to unanimously, but the majority, of which the writer was one, thought the arrangement equitable for the sportsground committee. —I am, etc., Wm. P. NICOLL. June, 6, 1920.

REREKINO ROADING. (To the Editor.) - Sir, —In reference to Councillor Barnitt’s letter of May 22, when Cr. Barnitt estimated the cost, of'roading the Rerekino, he did not then mention that the sum of £15,000 would , include the money already spent in making the sixfoot track, which was somewhere in the gloomy past, a matter of 21 years ago. The estimate of £lBOO in my possession is certainly for forming the Rerekino to Makino junction. Cr. Barnitt does not quite know what his estimate is for, so one can readily understand his side-stepping tactics. . The portions on the Rerekino and Makino to be formed do not go through rough country and the distance. is approximately 3 J miles within the Clifton County boundary, and not eight miles as stated. I would refer Or. Barnitt to the “thirds” schedules of the Clifton County Council, wherein he will see that the Makino Road to my homestead has been formed, although on paper, and paid for by “thirds” money drawn from the Taranaki Land Board! I would like to know where Or. Barnitt obtained his figures regarding the cost of existing bridges—£4ooo. Does Cr. Barnitt think it was a business proposition for the Government to spend this sum on bridges without the.intention of roading. Cr. Barnitt conveniently forgets to inform the public that when Government valuation took place this section of 1510 acres was, and is today, only partly developed, but hats since been revalued and the unimproved value considerably reduced, so that he once again fails as a land valuer. Regarding the abandoned sections, there are only two to my knowledge in the Ngatamiro district. One of these was abandoned by Cr. Barnitt many years ago. As to the mortgages, he ought to be the best , judge of their value and I will not dispute his statement that they are worthless. I still adhere to my statement that the metalling of the road to Or. Barnitt’s ga.te was not a business proposition as far as the ratepayers’ money was concerned, nor did I rush into the Press before having facts. • I consider any gross misrepresentation that has been made has come from Cr. Barnitt, in fact, I do not think that he is conversant with the matter he has taken upon himself to interfere with. I have not read of Or. Barnitt having , been gazetted as Minister of Public. Works and object to his dictation on a matter which has nothing whatever to do with him or Clifton County Council at its present stage. —I am, etc., D. McBEAN. Ngatamiro, June 3, 1930.