PLUNKET SOCIETY BUILDING SITE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3954, 11 June 1929, Page 3

PLUNKET SOCIETY BUILDING SITE.

DEPUTATION WAITS ON COUNCIL. A deputation from the local branch otf the Plunket Society waited upon the Borough Council last night with a request for a site on which to erect a building with the proceeds of the recent carnival. The deputation was welcomed by the (Mayor, who rief-erred to the good work the Society was doing locally. Mrs. F. Robinson, president of (lie Society, stated that the Advisory Board had turned down the Courthouse site as there was no security of tenure. The recommendation of the Advisory Board had been considered by the Society at a meeting held that afternoon and had unanimously endorsed the Board’s recommendation. The Society now 1 appealed tio| the Council) to help them, 'by the offer of a site or sites for consideration as the Society was anxious to proceed with -the erection of -a. building. The Society was not in a position, financially, to purchase a site. If a building were erected in Main Street it would have to be in lb rick. The Mayor said that possibly the Council would favourably consider offering a site next to the library building on a section recently acquired by the Council. Cr. Coavley sab) it was news to him to hear that the Courthouse site had been turned down. He would like to know the reason for such action as he thought everything had been fixed.

Mrs. Robinson said that the Society which had been divided previously on the Courthouse site, had agreed to the Advisory Board’s recommendation on account of insecurity of tenure. Mrs. Doel also endorsed Mrs. Robinson’s remarks and added that it had been stated that the Borough Council would offer a site in Main Street. Ci's. Barron and Robinson did not approve of the turning down of the Courthouse site and pointed out that should the Society go out of existence the assets would belong to the Dominion Council of 'the Society. The Mayor informed the deputation that the Council would give favourable consideration to their request. The deputation then withdrew. -

The request was then discussed at length by the Council. It was pointed ouit that the Council would not grant the freehold of a site but would lease a site at a pepper corn rental. Certain sections were (mentioned and their suitability for the purpose discussed. It was finally decided on the morion of 'Os. Ross and Ra-ngiheuea to ofifeir the Society the choice of two sites, one next- to the library and a portion of' the Bowling green site, subject to the consent of tihe Bowling Club.