REST ROOM PROJECT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 69, 23 March 1939, Page 12

REST ROOM PROJECT

ATTITUDE OF CROWN LETTER TO RAETIHI BOROUGH COUNCIL (Own Correspondent). RAETIHI, March 22. The following communication addressed to Mr. J. Aird, secretary of the Raetihi Rest Room Committee, and written by the Hon. Frank Langstone, M.P. for the Waimarino, and Minister of Lands, was read at the March meeting of the Raetihi Borough Council, held on Tuesday evening:— “The Under-Secretary for Lands has consulted me in regard to the proposed donation by the Bank of New Zealand of a site for a rest room in Raetihi. He has also shown me your telegram of yesterday’s date, accepting generally the conditions which would be attached to the transfer of the section to the Crown as set out in the Under-Secretary’s letter to you of January 27. It appears to me, however, that the acceptance of this section would involve the Borough Council in a fairly considerable loss of rates. I am given to understand that the rates on the Bank of New Zealand’s section amount to £5O per annum. According to the report laid before me, there is a section of Crown land, area one rood, described as Section 229, Block IX, on which there are two old buildings at present, which buildings really have value for removal purposes only. Another section, being part Section 10, Block I, containing 12.8 perches and at present owned by the Borough Council, is also in a central position. So far as the Crown section is concerned, I would be prepared to have it made available without cost for the purposes of a Plunket room and rest room. Then there is the domain area near the motor camp site; I would be prepared to allow a small portion of this to be made available for your committee’s purposes. The use of any of the three sites mentioned herein would not involve any loss of revenue to the Borough Council and in the circumstances I think that your committee should discuss j;he matter with the Borough Council. Incidentally, I believe that the Borough Council intends to erect a Plunket room ano rest room in connection with its Centennial activities somewhere in the vicinity of the present motor camp site. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Borough Council and would suggest that you confer with the council at an early date and advise me of your decision. The council will be able to locate the various sections conserned on its borough map.” The town clerk explained that the first section mentioned by Mr. Langstone was that opposite the Waimarino County Council Chambers, in Seddon Street, known as A. C. Drury’s old furniture factory. The second section mentioned was that next to Watson’s billiard saloon (opposite to the post office). This property was recently acquired by the Borough Council under the provisions of the Rating Act. The Mayor (Dr. W. J. Feltham) asked the permission of councillors to produce the letter at the Centennial Memorial Committee meeting to-day (Thursday, March 23). Permission was granted, councillors stating that the letter would go a long way to clarify the attitude of the Crown in the matter.