PUKEROA DOMAIN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 690, 16 November 1933, Page 6

PUKEROA DOMAIN

QUESTION OF CONTROL MINISTER CONTENDS COUNCIL HAS NO VOICE IN MATTER RESOLUTION CARRIED i The Rotorua Borough Council at if? meeting last evening, again disc.ussed the question of the control of Pukeroa Reserve. The discussion arose apropos of a letter from the Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts stating that he was not prepared to admit the Council's claim to a voice in the control of the area. The Department was, however, prepared carefully to consider any representations made by the Council in regard to the reserve. Councillors, however, considered this promise too indefinite and decided to again take up the matter The Mayor (Cr. T. Jackson), "said that the Department apparently con--•idered that it had the right to lease the reseive, or portion of it, without .'.onsulting the Council. It had this right if it could prove that the land was not required for the purpose for which it was dedicated. He could not agree, however, with the Minister's contention that the council had no voice in the matter, for the reserve had been gifted to the people of Rotorua, for whom the council was trustee, "for their use and enjoyment." Cr. E. T. Johnson expressed the opinion that the only way to safeguaid the council's interest was to apply to the court for an injunction preventing the Department from leasing the land without reference to the council. The Mayor said that before an injunction could be obtained, it would be necessary to establish (a) that the reserve was held for the public use and enjoyment of the people of Rotorua and (b) that the reserve is required for the purposes for which it is dedicated. The point at issue was, whether the council required the trusteeship of the reserve or not. Cr. Johnson: The point is, we think we should grant the lease and not the Department. Cr. Goodson said that the council was only concex-ned to ensure that the Department did not lease the reserve to the Waikato Hospital Board for a second term of 21 years. If it did that, the reserve would definitely be lost to the people of Rotorua. The council was not opposed to the lease of the reserve to the hospital board for the first 21 years, but desired to ensure that control of the area did not pass right out of its hands. He thought that if the council wrote to the Department along these lines, it would be all that was necessary. •The Mayor said that he thought hat it would be unadvisebale to enter into litigation if it could be avoided but he thought that the council should make it plain that it did not in any way forego its claim to the reserve. After some further discussion it was decided to inform the Department that the Council, having con•■idered the terms of the Minister's letter, desired to reiterate its claim to the right to control the reserve. The Council, however, would not object to'any lease being granted to the Waikato Hospital Board, subject to ,ho provision that any further extension of such lease were first submitted to the Council for its approval.