SALE OF BOROUGH TREES

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4451, 13 May 1930, Page 3

SALE OF BOROUGH TREES

PRICE RIDICULOUS, SAYS CR. P. ROBINSON. A i last night’s Borough Council meeting a letter was received from Mr C. Petersen, offering to purchase the pirns insign is trees on 1 lie Target Reserve at 1/- P <J 1 ‘ 100 ft., milling timber, and 2/fi per cord for the balance with cones at. 3d per bag. The Mayor said that most of the Councillors had inspected the trees and he would recommend the acceptance of the lender as the price was a good one. Ur A. R. Crowe endorsed the Mayor’s remarks, as did Cr Lncinsky, who'sand a lot of the timber was “dozzy.” The Mayor said that a reservation had been placed on all gum and macrcarpa trees and provision had. also been made for the saving of a belt of trees fifteen yards wide at the west end. Cr Crowe moved and Cr Ross seconded that the tender be accepted when Cr F. Robinson voiced bis disapproval. He said be did not favour selling the trees to an individual. There would be dozens of men out of work at the end of the month with dozens of lorries and fenders should bo called for the sale of the timber. The price offered was not half what the frees were worth. He could guarantee to gei 2/- per 100 and 3/- per cord for the firewood and he forthwith moved an amendment that tenders be invited for the sale of the trees.

Cr Rnngiheuea supported Cr Robinson and seconded his amendment. Cr. Ross considered the offer already received as good as Ike Council would gel, especially in respect to the 2/fi for firewood. The contractor would also clean up the reserve.

The Mayor said that in the event of the offer being accepted, he understood that Mr Petersen intended employing several married men. The Council had already had one bitter experience with regard to trees in connection with the Cemetery Reserve. The amendment was put and lost, the mover and seconder only voting fur it, and the motion was carried. Cr Robinson: I hope the price will appear in the paper so that the ratepayers can see what, their trees were sold for. The Clerk: There is no reason why the letter should not he published. It is public property.