Tuakau Domain.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 335, 4 December 1917, Page 3

Tuakau Domain.

| To the Editor] Sir,— Kindly allow roe space through the medium of your paper to reply to the letter in your last issue under the above heading and over the signature of* Mr Hugh McGuire, Chairman of the Tuakau Board. Mr McGuire starts off byeaying that a deputation had waited on the Prime Minister, consisting of Messrs D. Fulton, W. Glasgow and J H. Craig, and asked for the control of the Tuakau Public Domain, asserting that the control had been previously under a Domain Board, but had now lapsed. The personell of the deputation as stated is correct, but the accusation they are charged with is absolutely wrong as no such request was mentioned to the Prime Minister nor was there any insinuation that the Domain Board had becoma defunct. Mr McGuire states that the deputation deliberately or otherwise made mis-statements to the Prime Minister. It would be interesting to know where he (Mr McGuire) got his i information from, inasmuch as the Press was not represented when the deputation motored the Premier down to the Domain, and the other two members of the deputation with myself feel quite amused at the worthy chairman rushing into print before he knew the plain facts of the case.

Now, Sir, for the information of Mr McOuire and for all others interested, I will explain the position of the Tuakau Town Board in connection with the Domain and the request made to the Prime Minister. The Tuakau Public Domain is about one and a-half miles from the township and outside .the Town, Board area. It comprises about thirty acres. The front portion which faces the main river road is very neatly laid out in flower beds, shrubs, and also has a tennis court. All the plantings are fenced from the grazing part of the first paddock, and the grazing is let to a neighbour close by ; that paddock would consist of from five to seven acres. The balance of the Domain is let for the grazing rights to another person for a term of six years, I believe, at a very low rental considering the value of the land, and that portion is absolutely useless for Domain purposes Nowwhat the deputation wanted was to know if the Government would cn.sider selling the back portion of ihe Domain and retain the front portion for the purpose which it is u-.ed f..r at the present time The Prime Minister was assured that it was under the control of a Domain B iard, and our object was to show him (the Premier) the actual position and then to ask for his support in se curing a portion to put towards a Recreation Ground nearer the township. Now, Sir, your many readers who are acquainted with Tuakau, knowperfectly well that the Public Domain has never been used to any extent, by the public. In the old foothall days there was never a gams played on the Domain. All the sports racing and patriotic carnivals have been held iu a paddock recently owned by Mr A. Madill and now belonging to. Mr J. H". Craig, and surely when the public of this growing district has at all times to depend on a private person for the use of his paddock for r< creation purposes it is high time that the local Board set to work to secure a Domain that would be useful, and which our people'could use without be'ng any obligation to anyone I th'nk if the Tuakau Domain Board wou d take a broader view of the matter for the ben< fit of the future and progress of the district they would readily agree to selling a portion for the purpose mentioned. I wish to say that before Mr Massey's visit to ilie district the Town Board met anfl considered the matter of deputations, and the Domain question was one in which the whole members of the B>ard were unanimous. Mr McGuire's parting shot is that the members of the Domain Board do not intend to let the matter rest where it is. lean tell him that personally I will welcome any further action on their part as it can only help to bring about the desired effect. In conclusion, I hope Mr McGuire can come to and show your readers where this Domain property is one of the best near Auckland, as he states it is. Yours etc, — D. FULTON, Chairman Tuakau Town Board. 3/12/17.