NATIVE RESERVES IN TOWNS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 848, 21 June 1910, Page 2

NATIVE RESERVES IN TOWNS.

POSITION IN PALMERSTON. According. to a deputation from the Palmerston North Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce, which waited upon the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) yesterday, til® Native reserves in the borough are hampering the progress of the town. Mr. Nash (Mayor of Palmerston North] said that, for some years past, tho reserves had been hung up, but it was now desired that they should be allowed to bo subdivided. He would like to point out that land values in'Palmerston North were now settled, and probably would not materially alter foi many years. At present the reserves were let at small rentals, and if the proposed scheme were adopted the Native owners would get a much better return. The frontages of "the reserves totalkd 16,764 fec-t, which at on average of 455. per foot would yield .£37,719. If the cost of loading (.£3900) were deducted it would leave ,£33,819, which, if invested at 5 per cent, on behalf of the Native owners, would give them .tIC'JO per aiinuni, in place of .£2OU or so as at present. Then, again, if these lands were revalued it would give the 'borough over .£3OO mora in rates, together with JJ2OO additional rcvenu? from sanitary and water rates. They would like to impress on the Prime Minister tho necessity for seeing that the sanitary, by-laws should apply to Native reserves in boroughs: Mr. Havdon, president of tho Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, referred in particular to the benefits which would accrue to the borough if-tho proposal wero adopted. In all. if the. reserves were subdivided it would give 254 seo tions, none of which would be less than a quarter of an acre ill extent. . . Sir Joseph: Is there a demand for so many sections? -Mr. Haydon: Oh, y<s. The Prime Minister (m reply) said that he ivonld Ik? glad to put the matter before the Public Trustee, who was the administrator of the reserves, so that it could be considered before the expiry of the current leases. It was, of course, the business of the Public Trustee to guard the interests of tile owners, aiid if better results could be got jt would be his duty to get them. Before anything could be decided a full report would have to be obtained. ,