MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3935, 27 April 1929, Page 3

MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AT FOXTON.

DISCUSSES VARIOUS MATTERS. Some time ago the secretary of the Sports Plunket Carnival Committee foi'warded a communication to the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, with a request that portion of the vacant courthouse site he transferred to the Plunket Society upon which to erect Plunket rooms. In reply the Minister stated that he would he passing through Poston and would personally inspect the site. The proposal of the Sports Committee was not made public or submitted to the Plunket Society for consideration as it was thought that should the request be favourably considered by the Minister it would be a feather in the cap of the Sports Committee in furtherance of their effort. ( On Tuesday} Mr. I J. Linklater, M.P., received a communication from the Minister intimating that he would fee paying a brief visit to Foxton and on Wednesday he forwarded the information on to the Mayor both of whom, however, were not cognisant of the object of the Minister’s visit. At about 4 p.m. the Minister arrived accompanied Iby his secretary, and was (met at.the courthouse by the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau), President of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr. J. K. Hornblow), and Mr. D. R. Barron (secretary of the Plunket Sports Committee). The Minister was accorded a welcome by the Mayor who apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. Linklater, M.P. Mr. Wilford said he had received a, request for permission to allow Plunket rooms to be erected on a vacant section of the courthouse site and before coming to a conclusion he "decided to make a personal inspetetion of the area as he was passing through the district. He had accordingly notified Mr. Linklater of the visit.

At this stage the carnival proposal was explained to the Ministei and the Mayor said he or the Plunket executive had not been made aware of the request. The various committees, however, were working with the same object in view, to raise funds for the erection of Plunket rooms. 'The Minister said the object of .the carnival was a worthy one, but he desired to make it quite clear that if consent were given/to erect a building on the site such building would become an asset of the Justice Department as no compensation would bo paid in ease the Society was wound up. He also added that plans of the proposed building would first of all have to be submitted to him and would naturally have to be in keeping with the new courthouse and police station. He would not permit , any kind of structure. 'Mr-. Barron said it was prooosed to spend £SOO on the proposed structure. The Minister then conferred with Constable Owen as to whether the building, if erected on the site upon which the old courthouse stood, would in any way be objectionable to court work, and facetiously added that the court when sitting did not; want to hear crying babies. Mr. Barron interjected that Plunket babies never cried, which dreiw forth a solmewhat unconvincing reply from Mr. Wilford. The Minister then inspected the property and agreed that the site between the courthouse and police station appeared to be the most suitable for the purpose, and he promised to give favourable consideration to the request rvhen the plans and specifications of the proposed building were submitted to him.

Mr. Hornblow asiked that the old picket fence be not re-erected. The Minister said he would consent to this provided the Borough Council or Beautifying Society erected a concrete ketfbing in its 'stead. The Mayor undertook to get this work carried out. The Minister said he had pernsed the title of the land and called attention to certain building encroachments. The Minister was thanked for the prompt attention he had given to the request and the matter will be considered in all its details by the Plunket Society.