CITY COUNCIL AGAIN DEBATES TAKING OVER LAND AT KAITOKE

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1950, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL AGAIN DEBATES TAKING OVER LAND AT KAITOKE

The question of whether the Wanganui City Council should take over the defnuct Development League's area of 876 acres of land at Kaitoke for afforestation purposes was debated at the meeting on Tuesday night. Cr. N. M. Izard moved in effect that this should be done, but after a debate it was decided to refer the question to the incoming council tor an early decision. Cr. Izard said that Mr C. L. Duigan's offer of £2OOO was made more than two years ago and there had been considerable discussion with the Crown and later the Development League. He felt that the council had a duty to the incoming council and should express its views on the subject. The present council was unable to implement any decision. Cr. Izard then moved, seconded by Cr. R .E. Jack, “That this council accept in principle the proposals outlined in the letter received from the bondholders, and subject to agreement on matters of detail, it undertake to invoke legislation to vest the Wanganui Development League’s area of 876 acres in the council at the fee simple for afforestation purposes." Cr. J.C. Batt: That means in effect that the council commits the ratepayers and the future council. If the resolution moved by Cr Izard were carried the City Council would become responsible for the area at Kaitoke. "I am definitely against that,” Cr. Batt added. The grant of £2OOO was for labour only and did not cover the cost of trees and materials, he said. The council would have to spend money, but would get nothing in return for years. The council had no authority and no mandate to take up land down the coast and do this sort of thing. Cr. Izard said he supported the proposal because first of all it would enable the council to acquire land without cost and the advantage of the legacy of £2OOO. A third of the trees would become the property of the council. There would be no cost at present except the rates, which at this stage were negligible. Cr. Jack said he favoured the proposal. The council was getting the land for nothing and was not obliged to spend money on the land at present. Cr. H. S. Delves said he was opposed to spending money in this direction. It already had reserves which were not being adequately maintained. For a start the council would have to pay £5O in rates for the past two years. Cr. G. P. Hawkins said he was concerned about the proposal because the council might not know what it was letting itself in for. Before reaching the stage where they could be milled the trees would require a great deal of attention. Cr. T. N. Dickson said that this was a question which required more consideration and for this reason he moved that it be referred to the Incoming council for early consideration. Forestry officials had advised the council not to touch afforestation of the coasal sand dunes with a 40foot pole. The present proposal was different, but there were factors which had to be considered. Cr. Dickson's motion was seconded by Cr. J. A. McFarland and carried, Cr. Izard agreeing to withdraw his motion.