Purchaser’s Letter To Land Sales Committee

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1948, Page 8

Purchaser’s Letter To Land Sales Committee

TIMARU, October 7.

“To much emphasis cannot be given to the impropriety of such a letter as sent to this committee by Ireland,” said the chairman, Mr W. H. Nicholls at a sitting of the Canterbury Rural Land Sales Committee in Timaru this afternoon. An application by William Lang Ireland for the purchase of a farm at Arno, South Canterbury came oefore the committee at a recem sitting in Timaru, but was adjourned for an inspection of the property by the committee. Since the last hearing Ireland wrote to the chairman of the committee about the condition of the property. “The committee wishes to make a statement in regard to two aspects of the letter,” said Mr Nicholls. “Firstly it was a most improper thing to do qs the committee is a judicial bociv and such a lettei’ might properly be considered as a contempt of court. The committee regards any attempt to influence its decision as a very serious offence and under no circumstances should committees be written to or approached in regard to applications before them.”

“Secondly, the committee will not under any circumstances hear evidence from an intending purchaser in derogation of his contract. In this case the purchaser has entered into a contract to purchase the land at a price, and the committee, even if Ireland were to be called to give evidence on oath, will not hear evidence tended to convey the view that the property is not worth the amount he contracts to pay for it,” added Mr Nicholls.

After an inspection of the property the committee approved the sale of the farm of 568 acres 2roods 29 prs. at £5OOO, which was the price sought by Ireland. The vendor was the Public Trustee, as the agent of Hugh Jackson McKenzie, of Arno.