KELBURN SCOUTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 238, 2 July 1919, Page 8

KELBURN SCOUTS

NOT TO BE EVICTED

TENANCY OF CLDBROOMS

For a number of years the Boy Scouts of Kelburn have had the right to use as a clubroom an old dwelling on that portion of the Town Belt occupied by the Internal 1 ' Affairs Department a3 a reserve for 'the observatory. Consternation was caused recently by tho announcement that the Government was going to resume possession of this dwelling, and to make uso of it as a residence for a caretaker for this reserve, this arrangement having been made between the Internal Affairs Department and the Eeserves Committee of tho City Council. Tho scheme had never been ratified by'lie City Council. Thepeoplo of the district were the more concerned because the Scout Troop in the locality is a, very well organised body! The boys got possession of this building when it threatened to fall into decay, and they have spent a good deal of energy and some money in refitting it and making it comfortable. In order to persuade the Minister that '.he proposal of the Government was a wrong one, a deputation of tho people of Kelburn waited 011 the Minister of Internal Affairs yesterday to present a petition, and to urgo their request thatj the boys should be lett in undisturbed ipossession. The deputation was introduced by the member for the district, Mr. J, I'. Luke.

The Minister, without wailing to hear all that the speakers for the deputation had to submit to him, said that he would save the time of the deputation, as well as his own time, by'letting them know that he did not propose to go on with the scheme. Ho naii that morning paid a visit to the place, and lie was ot opinion that there was no reason whatever why the boy scouts should be disturbed in their possession of the building. (Applause.) He would not grant any permanent tenancy. It would bo tor the Minister succeeding him to deal with this mutter linally. Ail he would determine'for the present would be that'the boys, could have the tenancy for'another year. As sooti as he had gdne into the building he had been satisfied that boys who had put tho amount of work ana enthusiasm into anything that'these boys had done in this house deserved to be encouraged. Of course, if tho Government had gone on with the scheme foitaking over the building, the Government would have paid the boys for the improvements they had made in tho building.

The arrangement had been contemplated first of all because it was considered by the officers of the Department as well as by the officers of the corporation, that it would be very desirablt/ to have a man hi charge of that portion of tke':!grounds, whoso duty it would bo to act as caretaker over the observatory as well as to care for tile grounds. I'liS question was whether it would be proper ior the Government to put up a new building for a caretaker's residence, at a cost of, say, £1:200, or whether the old house should be used. He himself was of opinion that for such a small reserve 60 much expenditure on a new house was not warranted, Nor did he think that it would be necessary to use the old building. The present arrangement with the City Council whereby the staff of tho City CVuucil cared for the observatory grounds could quite well be continued.

At the same timo he thought it proper to draw the attention of Jlr. Lime, as Mayor of the city, to the fact that tlfe reserve at present was tho only thoroughfare to Salamanca Koad and Wesley lioad and talis was not quite satisfactory to the, Department in view of the value of the equipment in the observatory. He suggested that the city ought to make a public road outside the reserve. If the council would do that the Government would give a sufficient piece of laud to aJJtffr of a GGft. road being made. It was not desired that the observatory should be fenced round, but the Govern* mcnt must care for it, and this would be difficult so long as the reserve in w'nich the buildings stood was used as a thoroughfare by people at all'times. He suggested to the Mhyor that the council might very soon hear from the Government 'as to the necessity, for going on with this road to give people access to the. tram without going through tins reserve.