SALE OF SHOWGROUND

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5512, 11 December 1929, Page 2

SALE OF SHOWGROUND

ACTION BY MORTGAGEES. POSITION AT KEREPEEHI. Some interesting light on the sale by the mortgagees, of the Hauraki Plains A. and P. Society’s showground at Kerepeehi was thrown by members of the Kerepeehi Sports Association last week, when the question of a sports ground came up for discussion. Mr J. M. Thompson, president of the Sports Association, mentioned that over a year ago he had received a letter from an Auckland legal firm advising that he, as president of the Hauraki Plains A.and P. Society, was being held responsible for the debts on the showground. As he was not president of the show he had replied denying liability. About the same time, while talking to a Thames lawyer he learned that the mortgagees proposed selling the property, and he had then expressed the opinion that as the land had been given by the Government to the people for use as a showground it could not be sold. A little over a month ago he had been approached by a Thames solicitor and asked to make an offer for the property, and in reply to his query as to whether it could be sold was advised that a clear title was held and the land would be sold to anyone who came along with sufficient cash. : Continuing, Mr Thompson said he knew the land well, having grazed it for many years, and he hadsubmitted an offer based on what be considered to be its value, but a few weeks later he was advised that his offer had not been accepted and. the land had been sold. Mr W. Thomson was also able to throw some light on the matter. He told the meeting that from Mr E. L. Walton, solicitor, Ngatea, he had learned that the land could be sold, as special legislation had been passed by Parliament within the last nine months. In reply to his question as to whether it was not necessary for a mortgagee to sell property by public auction, Mr Walton said that a mortgagee had three courses available. If the land was sold by auction and did not realise the amount of the mortgage the mortgagor was still liable for the balance, but if the mortgagee sold by private treaty he waived all claim on the mortgagor to any deficiency. Mr Thomson said he had then asked who could give ar title to the showground, seeing that the A. and P. Society, which was the registered owner, was defunct and had no officers. The reply was that as the society was dead the property was treated just as in the case of a man- who had died without leaving a will. The mortgagee signed the transfer. A long discussion on the history of the SHow Society followed, during which it was explained that the Government had given over 40 acres for a showground. Part of this had been a swamp, and the A. and P. Society had arranged to surrender this and to acquire the freehold of & similar area on the hillside. This cost £6OO, and the sum of £l3OO was borrowed for this purpose and for improving the rest of the area. Whether the £7OO was spent wisely or not was a moot point, but it jvent on draining, fencing, and the cutting of rushes. At that time there were very few Kerepeehi residents who were members of the society, and on account of lack of facilities on the showground the were held at Ngatea, where there were saleyards. The first few shows.were successful, for everyone was keen, but as time went on to was realised that, the Hauraki Plains was not big enough to run a show, and that until there was a railway to bring cattle and horses from other districts it would not be a success.

Just at the time wfen this realisation became general the , residents of Kerepeehi began to take an interest, with the view of having the show held in Kerepeehi. At an annual meeting—when otherwise a decision would have been reached to cease holding shows — the Kerepeehi people attended in force and carried a resolution removing the venue to Kerepeehi. Residents of the Kerepeehi district were placed in the executive positions, and arrangements were made for holding a show, but so little support was forthcoming that the project was abandoned. A monster art-union was then organised, but it was a failure, the guarantors being called upon and the creditors left lamenting. From then- on the society has not had financial members, so has been inactive. Lessees of the showground were not asked for their grazing fees, and possibly did not pay them to anyone. While it was admitted that' the mortgagee 'of the land should protect his interests, it was generally believed the showground could not be taken from the district. From the views expressed it was apparent that had a salk been anticipated efforts of some sort would have been made to keep the ground for the district, but while the area was available for all who liked to use it, and as the debt was hanging ready to fall on anyone who would carry it, nothing was dene.

Now that the deal has been completed, members expressed the view that the Sports Association - should have negotiated to take over the A. and P. Association’s liabilities. It was a great pity that the land had been lost for ever. It was decided that Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., be communicated with and asked to explain the facts of the special legislation and who had promoted it.