"UNLETTABLE AND UNPROFITABLE."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 337, 12 March 1910, Page 2

"UNLETTABLE AND UNPROFITABLE."

A DIFFICULTY SOLVED. Mr. F. P. Corkill, secretary to the' School Commissioners, returned on Thursday evening from Wellington,' where, amongst other business, he interviewed the Secretary for Education in regard to several matters concerning School Commissioners' affairs. Amongst these was the question of devising some means, by legislation or otherwise, by which the Board could divest itself, of several "unlettable and unprofitable" re : serves. The Board, it transpired, had several reserves whichcajme in this eMe« gory, from various reasons. There were small"Jural' sections "whiclv wre~-too small to be worked profitably independently, and were so situated" or, so .oyer: grown with weeds that adjoining owners would have nothing to do with therm The principal trouble arose from, the fact that small sections were in the "''paper townships" which thickly dotted the Taranaki countryside. These sections were difficult to administer. Then again there were school sites which were laid off in inconvenient places. The Board some time ago communicated with the Department expressing a desire to get rid some of the.-,-;:. A tew years ago the Hon. G. Feldwick introduced a Bill into the Legislative Council for the purpose of giving the boards the power to dispose of lands found to be unsuitable for the purposes for which they were set aside, and empowering the boards to invest the procee Is in other lands which , would be similarly vested. The Bill passed the Council, but was either -thrown out in the Lower House or dropped. The Otago and Taranaki Commissioners then approached the Department and asked the Government to promote a Bill for the purpose, but this was not done. The Crown Law Office, however, advised that there was already provision on the Land Act, and there was no necessity to pass the legislation asked for.

The Secretary for Education advised Mr. Corkill that sufficient power was given under sub-section 5 of clause 330 of the Land Act, 1908, waich stated that "the Governor-in-Council may by proclamation declare that any lands now or hereafter reserved for any educational purposes shall be sold subject to the provisions of this Act," '

An assurance was obtained that no obstacle would be put in the way - of the Board if a schedule of the ■ffujilettable and unprofitable" sections, with full particulars of area and reasons for desiring to sell were placed before . the Department. A resolution that the secretary be thanked for his report, arid that he be instructed to prepare, this schedule for submission to the nevt Board meeting was carried unanimously.