GOLF LINKS EXCHANGE

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13270, 28 August 1916, Page 6

GOLF LINKS EXCHANGE

f MINISTERIAL VETO. POMAIN HOARD PROTKST. | CHAIRMAN (10KS TO WELLINGTON. The attitude of the Minister of Lands In refusing to sanction the exchange of if certain domain belt lands for the St. Andrew golf links was discussed at a special meeting of the Hamilton Domain " Board on Friday. Mr A. Swarbrifk (Chairman) presided, and there were also present Messrs J. H. Fo\v, h. Wilson, R. Parr, .1. T. llorne. and \. K. Manning. After referring brietlv to the general position, .Mr Swarbrick said the Minister's objection was liased Upon what he (the speaker) submitted was an erroneous estimate of the values ot the lands to be exchanged. 1 lie Hoard proposed to give about acres ot land, from which lliey at present derived *.■>'■! 10s per year in rent, and were to receive in exchange--- I A reid ot t.'IM) per year: 'J ' the rialit of I lie public to use a golf links maintained b> the club on paymenl of a nominal le": .! 70 acres additional open air space, dn the lac.' of il the exchange was. said Mr Swarhrick, a most ad\.ml.mcais one for the Hoar 1, and on full iti\• '-ligation the traduction would he found I" be perfect l\ sound and proper. The valuation of the golf link.- made on bellHl f of I lie I io\ e i'll nle I[ j appeared to have been based 11 i 'Oil I! I e \a I lie of llo' land as ai; I'ii'lll I III':. I land. Ih •• I rile value of ,ill> Li\en piece of I.i:: d Was its value if used in the nrnst prolilable inaillle I . 11 wa- \\ rmi u to \ a 111 > • I lie golf links either ;i- agricultural land or a> lillildill- .-lie-. I'roiii it- area, situation and form ill 'ii. and the character of the soil, this piece of land waill a peculiar m umer adapted u-' as a -"!f links and iiothiii- el- . and it had been laid out and d. \, !.,pe,| for that pui pe-e. \ body inclmliri- many of the te.idiu- b;: -111 e- - and pi"!'.— ioii.d men w ere \\ i! iltl - I" V-111l a \o.i!' fill' ii ' of the land a- a -o|; link-. I b's lise was not e\clu-i\e, and ill .addition to the annual relit the Hoard sec 11 led Ilia t I lie tenant- maintained the ground-. I lie public having Ihe right to Vise them oil payment of a nominal fee. Advantage to the Board. T!mi a -oil' link- for public u-\ for Which (own- in other countries expended large sum-. \>Ul'J I."' id''d . without co-l and at an acliial gaili iU rental. \ allied in this wiy Hie golf links \\ e |'e \\ i 111 i I I" Hie dlslfil'l Sollletllill- between U.'.UOII alld Sj t 0. 01111. :iCcordinu to the e-liniab' of tie- pro).abb inci'e i-e in the population. In exfor 111 i- the I!i 1,1 I'd Wi re |o ui \ e up 1111< 1 wilich wa- no! required f.e recreation purposes, and was let I" v ji \e ,r- at v::-J 10-a >e„r. The Hoard l, a d no power to let tins land tor Iniihljtv- purpose- W i 111 ol: 1 special si.dlltol'v authority. I.ven if such alll horil> were obtained, Hie lan I cmld md b • ads.m----tageoll-!\ u-ed for bllildliu plirpos. - lull' s- il W'el'e ( ill Up and l'"ad.'d, wllil'll Would in\o|m' \pendilure of a \er> capital available for sticli Work, and even if 111. > had the capital, il would he illegal for them I" ep-aue in such a t rail-a C 1 lo 11. Il the iioal'd wele lo sell the land lliey would require special statutory authority and could lli-n ()Il |\ -I'll to a piircha-er win. would have to provide a |al'-e slllil 1" bll> ( ,||t the pi'e-elll bII ml- and o|» 11 Up j Street- and l.i\ out hi- capital tor a long period. In estimating the \at the land for hiiildin- purpose-, all lln-e dediietioll- must I"' allowed h>r. I his was P irt of the belt land, and should not be parted with mile.— the Hoard secured other I md- in exchange. Th • present pi'oposal - i\e the oppoilunit> of so •• \chaii"inu-. Perfectly Sound Transaction. All ilou U1 I he be lie\ e d 111.' pl'opo-ed exi'l I Ul-e to be .1 perfect |\ sollild I 111erei.11 Iran-aclion. Mr Sw .rbriek - ml lie preferred lo look upon il ill lis bigger aspect. Till- proposal war i-al tof a cia 11 p l' 1 b ' scheme Wllicll W'lllld 11 11 i - I,lately Hive |o llalililh I! the finest set ~f pai'ks and pla> -I'oiiiids of any (own in New Zealand. Mr Swarhrick adde>: Hi.d Hie making of p ,I'ks and the be.iiitifvm- of towns wa- one 11 f He iall -1 --II" and ,-e|!-ible Ide I- ever propounded b> 111 ill. 11 meant briimui- additional ioy into the ]j V e- of ewrybody. II meant makiiihf*' -oinewha! la I'e th 111 laO ne v and ledgers. The speak."' - lid la was appro .died b\ a mall a few ike - ..go, who mi::. Sled that Se.id.-n Park should I" (Ml! up as building sites. II Was Ihlls app irent that some ; pie Coil! i coine <o look at thing- in th.- li-hl. but to the speaker's mind there should be something in life than commerce. Hamilton could 1!n: s -. I an example to other 11iwlis of the I loiiiiiiion in presetting open spaces and making the town as beautiful a- possible. In answer to Mr Wilson, the chairman said the valuations worked out at exactly I'iiOOO each. The speaker said the proposal did not originate with Mr hillies, hut was entirely his Mr S warbrick's). Mr Gillies' offer was not. accepted by the Hoard. Mr Wilson considered the system of valuations quite erroneous. The links, he understood, had not been valued as golf links. Mr Manning said the present [imposition emanated from the Board. The valuations were undoubtedly wrong. Before this belt land could be valued as building sites several thousand pounds would have to be spent on it. The proposal was certainly in the Board's favour. Mr Fow considered that the chief aspect to be forced on the Minister's notice was that as a financial proposition the exchange would be markedly In favour of the Board. After a little further discussion, Mr Swarbrick was appointed delegate to interview the Minister on the subject. Mr Swarbrick will take with him the written approval of the Borough Council to the proposal.