BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1835, 8 May 1888, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

— A special meeting of the ABhbnrton Boroagh Oouncll was held last evening to consider tho petition of a number of boroagh lessees for a redaction of their rente. The matter has bsen before the Gounoll for aorao time time past, and not long ago they adopted the Public Bodlaa Powera Act, which glveß* aatorliy, if a reduction be detmed desirable, for auch to be made. The Councillors present were: Tho Mayor and (Jouaoillor^ Williamson, El. Fdedlander, Bird, lloberlß, Tucker, Thomas, Sealy, Held and Soott. Aftor a lengthy discussion a3 to the order of procedure it waß decided not to go into committee, bob that the debate should be conducted with as much freedom as if such were the oaso. Or Tucker moved that the compensation clause lately adopted by the Oonncil be introduced in all the leases. He considered that this was tne only praotioable way in which roiiof o uUI baaff ird:d, and bjaidos it would probably havo tie effect of causing some of the vacant sections to bobuilt upon. Th 1 ? olau eln question jlb to the effect that tho incoming tenant shall pay to the ou g >icg iha value of all buildings and improvements, as fixa i b? valuation. The Mayor did not ihiak the motion related to the business they had been called there to consider, which wab whether it was desirable or not to make a reduction in th^ rents. He would have to rale it ont of order. Ore Thomas aud Saaly thought r tha motion qu!te In order, ai tha mooting waß. called to go in'.o the whole question of the leases. Or Robarta eald It was a question whether tho Ocuuoil oould, In the Interest of the ratepayers as a whole, alter leases fixod years ogo. Or Friedbnder said that the intention had b ea to diacuis the whole question of tho leases, but the notioe calling the meeting Bt*ted *' to consider petition for reduotlon of rent." Anything they did outside that would be illegal. They oould of course diaouia the matter, and if thought desirable to do anything another meeting ooald be held. Tho Mayor waa compolled to rule the motion out of otder. Tho Oietk was not to blame in the wording of tho notice, ao the pe'.ition of !035r03 wera all about a reduction. Or Williamson had a motion to propone, because he thought thia compensation clause would work in some form, though he did not think It would be wise to grant it indiscriminately. There wore some valuable buildings put up by the lessees with their eyea open, He did not want to be hard on them, but would give them the option of ohauglng th« i • lease if they paid * a premium for the interest the Oounoil would loss. He moved, " That thia Oouncll does not feel j ißtiued i'j making any reduotlon in Ihe rents of the leasees, la the later^st of the ra epayera ftfl a whola but may cQaaidtir en applloa lon for a new lease coutamlng the compensation clause as ad >ptoi by the Borough," Or Thomas did not think the motion would meet tha case. S'jme of the lessees were not paying anything too muoh rent ; others were paying three tlmoa too muoh. The great question waa fo decide how thcß9 paying too much oould be relieved. One of the lessees had shown that even with tho componsa'.lot) clause, if he ereotod a oott'Ago oa his taud, ha would be obesiderftb!y out of p:cket at tho end of his term. Tho losacea did not want any roduction of their present rents, but'deeired the Oouncll not to enforce the 60 per out riso that would shortly t\ko placo. Or Raid thought th it each caae should be considered on its marlta, Thia waa tho only fair away of dealing with the matter whloh wai rjally a airioua oae. Or Scott saw uo reason to alter his already expreß3ed opinion. The lessees had gono in with tholr eyas open, and if tho p'aco had gono ahead acd thoy had made a lot of money, they would not have glyon any to the Qouncll. Of Scnly sale l , that tne iripreaeea of rent ma provision for cztraotihg that money in cao9 fcho plo.oj weut ahead. S.-raothing would have to be do'.io for the lessees, or tho sections might ba thrown on the Council's hands, Tha 0 >uiig!l should either forego tho iocioaß) or give a oompotiB«t!on clauao. Or Bobe'ts Bft'd that if they 1-ioked at the Hat of loasees they would aeo that they wore all ehrawd men, uud thoy ware well a.wi\tii t'^at. <ha leßsc-s provided for inoroanos. 0: Fri'jd'ander attll maintained that the Council would not be justified In meddling with tho rents, but ha waa disposed to agroo to a - compensation olause proposal Ha b»d been Jnatrutr.entftl in securing the adaption by the Oouncll of this clause, and he would support its Introduction la the old lcaiee provided those who had put up buildinga should pay Buoh preralums as were thought fit. Unless the /burgesses as a whole desired £ho redaction of the roots, he could not Bapport suph b.olng don?.. A loDg cooveraatiouai dUpus9lon ensued in tho course of wh^ch Ors Reid and Thomas ota'ed that they would Bapport tho motion, provided that the pr|ooiple wore (iffiimod that in -aoma oas.fls a reduction should be made. After farther discoßj'on the motion was amended and carried aa follows : — " That this Council dooa not feel juatlfiod in granting any rodaotion of rents to the Bo'oiiLjh lessees iq tho interest; of the ratepayer a? a wholo, excepting very upeelal casea, but may consider applications from proflont ccouponts of Borough rcaervca (o havo their Icaaos ganotiled and new onou issuod containing tho compensation clause ns adopted by the Borough, provided the terraa which the Oounoil mtsy itnpoßO on each individual application are agreed to by the respective applicants "