Govt accused of land speculation

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 50, 25 June 1974, Page 3

Govt accused of land speculation

The Government I has been accused by * the chairman of the * Moonraker Develop1 ment Company of : land speculation i through its agencies. % "This is the very thing it * has legislated against as far | as the private sector is 1 concerned," said Mr R. C. | Hayward in a letter to the acting Minister of Lands, * Mr Faulkner. Mr Hayward has also * asked the Ombudsman, Sir 1 Guy Powles to examine * Crown lands and land * settlement policy following p a refusal by the Taupo jj * County Council to extend a £ specified departure for the w site of the proposed Moon- £ raker Hotel. Mr Hayward proposes % that Sir Guy also test other 2 aspects involved — includH ing the council' s ruling on H the definition of "substan- £ tial progress." "The Government is being politically dishonest, * in my opinion, to uphold * existing departmental & *

policy; in effect it means one law for the Government and another for the people," said Mr Hayward in his letter to Mr Faulkner. "Furthermore, as a matter of basic principle, one is denied any process of law by way of right of appeal or any means by which the Government' s actions cari be legally challenged. The Government can be

as arrogant as it likes and get away with it." Mr Hayward said the Minister had admitted that representations had been made to have the land in question reVert to residential use. "I know the county council's thinking is also in this direction," he said. "I am firmly of the opinion that this attitude is against the public interest and that the county' s recent action in refusing to extend our town planning approval was also designed to kill the project." Despite the fact that he had spent five years on the scheme at a cost of nearly $100,000 to the company, Mr Hayward Said he did not have a chip on his shoulder. "I do believe, however, in honesty and fundamental justice." In a letter to the county clerk, Mr Hayward said that at least the council could have given the development company the benefit of the doubt until June 30, when the previous extension to the specified departure expired. "But it appears the council had already made up its mind long before our solicitor made his representations," said Mr Hayward. "Even in my discussions with the county engineer well beforehand, it was abundantly clear that the council's thinking was against granting an extension regardless of what evidence could be provided by way of support. "This to me suggests severe bias." Mr Hayward said the reasons behind the council's adamant attitude were* never likely to be revealed unless a full and open inquiry was instituted. "I think the public is entitled to know the truth and to be made aware of the fact that definite proposals existed for the project to become a reality even within the short space of time permitted by the commission and the Minister," he said. "The fact that the company was denied the opportunity is the all- | important point and on which the council stands 1 indicted." The county clerk was : unavailable for comment when this issue went to press.