Minister Disallows Council’s Scheme

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 429, 10 August 1928, Page 1

Minister Disallows Council’s Scheme

SITE FOR TOWN HALL

BIRKENHEAD’S INSTALMENT PLAN BARRED

By refusing to allow the purchase of a site on the instalment system, the Acting - M inister of Internal Affairs has upset the scheme of the Birkenhead Borough Council for the securing of land on which to build a new town hall.

A letter received from the depart- ! ment by the district secretary of the j Ancient Order of Foresters makes it briefly clear that the Minister cannot see his way to authorise the transaction. FORESTERS’ SOCIETY PROTESTS Following the decision by the Birkenhead Borough Council to purchase a site, Mr. R. Darlow, the Foresters’ district secretary, communicated with the Minister, and protested against the proposal. “I understand that it is proposed to purchase a site without consulting the ratepayers,” he wrote. “My society is a ratepayer in the borough, and on its behalf I wish to enter a protest. I am informed that your consent is necessary before the project can go through. That being so. I beg to submit that your consent should not be given for the following reasons:— “The town hall is not required, as the district is well supplied already with hall accommodation. “This society erected a hall in 1911, and for several years had to be content with a very low rate of interest return. In 1923. realising that further accommodation was required, the society brought the hall right up to date with an expenditure of over £ 6,000. The property is now earning about 6 per cent. “A town hall would not only be an expensive luxury for the borough, but it would render the existing hall unremunerative. “USELESS FADS” “The borough is without any drainage system, and is rapidly approaching the time when drainage will l*e imperative. Any drainage system will necessarily be very expensive, and in view of this the borough cannot afford to fritter away money on useless fads.” The departmental reply received by Mr. Darlow is as follows: “Referring to previous correspondence relative to the proposal of the Birkenhead Borough Council to purchase a certain area of land on the instalment system, I have now to advise that the matter has received very careful consideration, and the Hon. Acting-Minister of Interne 1 Affairs has now advised the borough council that he is unable to see his way to authorise the purchase of the land <m the inst.-i system.”