CORRESPONDENCE.

Hutt News, Volume 6, Issue 6, 17 June 1927, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

GEAR ISLAND. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In reading the reports of the River Board metiings I .have been very much surprised that not. a single member of the board appear to have given any serious consideration to the question of doing otherwise than using Gear Island as a playing area for sports bodies who will very probably be less enthusiastic when .the question of £.s.d. has to be faced. The tendency to-day is for sports bodies to look to somebody else to provide the wherewithal, and until some co-operation is found that will be willing and capable of footing the bill in their behalf to the tune of £700 per annum, it would be wiser to continue to use the land, as a dairy farm. As a dairy farm the land must increase in value, because of its proximity to the city. The River Board is not concerned with the requirements of impecunious sports bodies. They should only be concerned (as trustees of the ratepayers) with the commercial side of the proposition. The area is generally referred to as being about 130 acres, though, knowing it as I do, it is very doubtful if, when cut up into playing fields, more than 90 acres could be found. This would mean a rental of £8 per acre to make up for the loss of grazing rights. Can the sports bodies pay it ? Until they prove that they can, the River Board should not be in a hurry to part with so valuable an asset. The potentialities of Gear Island are enormous, and do not receive sufficient thought from the public. I estimate that there are about 90 acres of land that could be used for building sites and would very readily realise £400 per acre. This gives us a capital value of £36,000 which at 5 per cent, would return the ratepayers £1800 per annum. Glasgow is often quoted as the city that is free of rates owing to the foresight of its city fathers, and its rich en-

dowments. Have we not an opportunity to emulate their example? In conclusion, I hope the members of the River Board will not rush this thing through but carefully weigh the pros and: cons before coming to a decision.—-Yours, etc., ,; -_ "SOUND. BUSINESS."