YEARLY LEASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 242, 2 June 1932, Page 6

YEARLY LEASE

H.S. BOARD GIYEN TENURE OF MEDICAL OFFICERS' RESERYE AGRICULTURAL PLOTS A matter whieh. aroused considerable discussion between the Rotorua Domain Board and the Rotorua High School Board, and whieh appeared to have more or less lapsed over a period of nine months, was finally disposed of at 'last evening's annual meeting of the Domain Board, when it was neeiued to grant the school board a yeariy lease of the Medical Officers' reserve in Old Taupo Road, at' a peppereorn rental. The school authoriti'es suggested to the board that they should be given the use of the area for the purpose of developing experimental farm plots in connection with the agricultural cause at the school. Introducing the matter for discussion, the chairman of the board, Mr T. Jackson, said that the High School Board had first approached he council in 1931 with a request that the area should be vested in the school authorities for use in connection with the school's proposed agricultural scheme. The Domain Board discussed the matter, and on September 14, 1931, offered the area to the School Board at a peppercorn rental. On April 28, 1932, the school authorities had replied accepting the offer, and stating that the reply had heen d'elayed pending the arrival of the school's new headmaster. • Members of the board enquired what term of tenure it was proposed to give the School Boai'd. Accede to Request Mr. Albert Smith, after expressing the opinion that a definite term should be set to the rental, moved that the Board accede to the High School Board's request. The school authorities had now an excellent opportunity to proceed with their experimental work, as the new master recently appointed at the school, Mr. Pitcaithly, had exceptional qualifications in agriculture. He though that the school should be given a lease on a definite term, as money would be spent in developing the' land. Mr; O. H. Coleman supported the motion, but said that he thought the lease should be on a short term. The board could not bind future boards in the matter and should he able to repossess the area if necessary. Three Years' Lease Crs. E. T. Johnston and N. M. Keane expressed the opinion that a chree years' lease should be given in order to give the school authorities a sufficient period in whieh to carry out their work. Cr. Johnston added that be did not consider a motion necessary. The board had already agreed to make the area available to the school, and it was only a question of fixing the term of tenure. Tenders Must Be Called The chairman said that while he .vas very sympathetic with the opinion that the school should be given a three year tenure, the conditions under whieh the board held the land, hardly permitted this to be done. The board nad the power to grant a yeariy lease but beyond the 12 months' period, tanders must be called. He did not chink that once the board had made over the area, its decision would be rescinded by succeeding boards. A yeariy lease, renewable each 12 months, should be quite satisfactory. It was finally decided to grant tne •>chool board's request, giving a yeariy renewabla lease of the area at a peppercorn rental.