EDUCATION LEASES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 12 October 1907, Page 2

EDUCATION LEASES.

ANjJ iiu. (Jubl TUJiKiiUi''. Alleged excessive cost of leases was disousscu ut tne meeting oi iicnool Commissioners. Air Faull introduced the matter, and complaiinu inai too luucn money was spent ueiore a. lease could be obtained, ile figured that every renewal lease caused the expenditure of £l7 by the Hoard and the lessee combined, and he made it up thus: Board's share of solicitor's costs, x' 6 as; Board's share of arbitration, fee, £JJ 3s; lessee's share of these, £0 6'S; and coot of lease, including Government stamp, registration, etc., £5; making in ail .U7 12s

In the discussion which followed, it was pointed out that the Board's expenditure amounted to £0 (is. It had uothing to do with what the lessee might pay to his valuer, but i£ he agreed to have the Board's valuer (Mr Marchaut) as sole arbiter the amount was Mr Faull tenaciously stuck to his guns and fiercely contended that the leases were too expensive altogether, and that this operated agianst tne letting of the Board's reserves. Mr Simpson said there seemed to be a general feeling abroad that the charges were a bit too still. The particular item that the people grumbled about was the ten shillings charged for the Board's consent to transfer. He gave notice to move at next meeting that this charge be discontinued.—VVilh regard to tne arbitration and legal costs it was pointed out that these were provided in the terms of the leases.—The Board's solicitor said that when the last leases were sold he took on himself to reduce the charge for preparing small country leases by 50 per cent, making it only £2 10s. He thought it would have been ridiculous to charge £5 in regard to some of the reservse.—The chairman said that town tenants were growling about that now, asking why they should be called on to pay £5 whilst others escaped with .£2 10s. The chairman proceeded to explain, the position as it appeared to him. Mr Faull indignantly protested. The chairman, he considered, was treating him with contempt. Mr Wade said he had no intention of doing so, but Mr Faull 1 , it seemed, would not listen to commonsense. Mr Faull: Are you the only person that s got any sense? Alter further discussion Mr Faull suggested obtaining printed forms of j lease as used by the Crown Lands Mr Quilliam said that would be impracticable, as the leases differed materially. They were more complicated than Crown leases. As they had to hold good for 21 years they must be engrossed, too, and not typewritten. the secretary ea id he would welcome V"' '"""ontiinianco of the ten shillings lee for consent, for it was almost a nuisance to him.

Mr Simpson: That's what they're [giowling about, anyhow. ! „l,n',. ] l'i" ,l n Tl " < ]o Wtor to RIWTI "bout the Government stamp duty.