MR. PERCY HOLT’S OFFER.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 609, 18 February 1921, Page 9

MR. PERCY HOLT’S OFFER.

OFFICES AND LIBRARY SITE. PAPAKURA DIVIDED. BOARD ADHERES TO PREVIOUS DECISION. At a recent meeting of thg Papakura Town Board, Mr. Percy Holt offered to'exchange a triangular piece of land, bounded by Qtieen Street, Cole’s Crescent, and Stock Road, consisting of 1 acre 1 rood, for the present Library and Board office site, consisting of 1 rood, for the purpose of a town hall and library site, realising that the present buildings and allotment used by the Board for offices and library were totally inadequate to meet with the Board’s requirements. The difference of an acre would represent his gift to the citizens. In view of the fact that it was intended to erect a memorial in memory of the men of the district who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, Mr. Holt pointed out that he was prepared, if his offer was accepted, to give a depth of 25ft from the corner fence for the memoral, which would allow of a space of fully 20ft in diameter for the statue, and a lift wide footpath between it and the new boundary.

At a later meeting the offer was accepted, Mr. J. Rea contending that before anything of a final nature was arrived at, the ratepayers should Rave had 'a voice in the matter.

Subsequently a number of ratepayers became active, and it was soon evident that the community was divided into two camps. At Monday night’s meeting of the Town Board the matter was further discussed, but the Board adhered to its previous decision to accept Mr. Holt’s offer.

The first discordant note was struck when Mr. H. T. Markwick waited on the Board and presented a petition signed by 70 ratepayers expressing disapproval of the proposed exchange of the present Town Board and library site and building for Mr. Holt’s property, situated in Cole’s. Crescent, and requested the Board to stay any further proceedings in the matter until the Board had consulted the ratepayers of Pukekohe in reference thereto.

The second discordant note was sounded when Mr. Rea, in accordance with notice of motion given previously, moved that the resolution authorising the exchange of property with Mr. Holt be rescinded. In order to discuss the matter Mi*. D. W. Jones seconded the motion pro forma. The third disagreement was a letter from Mr. A. Willis protesting strongly against the proposal of the Board to part with the present library site. He pointed out that the site was given to the people of Papakura some 60 or 70 years ago for the purpose of a literary institute, and it seemed to him a most extraordinary thing that any Board should for cne moment consider parting with it. It was without doubt an ideal position for the purpose, and if the Board carried out the proposal it would in all probability mean that at some future date it would have to be bought back again at a high value, to be used for some public purpose. He quite admitted that the proposed exchange was a good one from a purely money poim; of view, but money was not everything, and surely it was the duty of evry Board to look to the future as well as the present. He contended that t|ye site should always remain the property of the people of Papakura, to be used solely for punilc purposes. Mr. Markwick said the petition was signed by 70 ratepayers, but with ample time at their disposal a greater number of signatures couicT have been obtained.. They merely requested the Board to stay further proceedings until the ratepayers had had an opportunity of considering the matter. He was of opinion that the Board had been carried away by Mr.'Holt’s benevolence. If Mr. Hollt was so benevolent he could have given the site gratis. It was not altogether a right thing to do for the Board to carry on with the matter without consulting the ratepayers. The site now held was a good one and he did not think a better site was available.

Mr. Rea supported the petition and agreed with Mr. Markwick that a larger number of signatures could have been obtained. The Board would be well advised to take notice of the requisition. He had never said he was against the site, nor did he know which was the most suitable site. Whether the Board rejected or accepted the offer, he maintained that at all events the ratepayers should be consulted before finality was reached. He understood that before the deal could be put through an Act of Parliament was necessary.

Mr. Jones said it was a healthy sign to see that the ratepayers were taking sufficient interest in the actions of the Board, and he hoped the interest aroused would be continued in other matters of importance to the

district. In the past the apathy and indifference on the part of ratepayers' was deplorable. He maintained the Board had done the right thing in accepting Mr. Holt’s generous offer. The present site was valued at 5175 and the offered site was valued at £595.

Mr. McLennan said he was sure that if a counter petition was circulated a larger number of signatures could be obtained. He maintained the Board had taken a step in the right direction.

The chairman and Messrs.. Campbell, Beams and Montgomery endorsed the opinions of Messrs. Jones and McLennan,

The motion upon being put was lost, Mr. Rea voting for it and Messrs. Jones McLennan, Campbell, Beams, Montgomery and Evans against.