BAR TO PROGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1920, Page 6

BAR TO PROGRESS.

STRATFORD RAILWAY LEASES. ( 1 MOVE TO SECURE FREEHOLD, (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. The railway leases facing on Broadway central, which, in the opinion of most of the people of Stratford, constitute the greatest barrier to the progress of the town, formed the subject of a very interesting and important discussion at a combined meeting of the Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce last night. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) occupied the chair, and | read a letter from Mr. R. Masters, M.P.. proposing that concerted action should be taken with - the object of inducing Parliament to direct the Railway, Department to sell the freehold of the leases facing Broadway Central, and also, when the station is removed, the railway property facing Juliet Street. The Mayor said that it would be very desirable, if it were possible, to persuade the Government to give the freehold of that side of Broadway. As far as the Council was. concerned, a good leasehold tenure was as good as the freehold, but to his mind it would be much better if the town could purchase the freehold and keep it as a borough endowment. Discussing the matter informally, prior to the arrival of the Chamber of Commerce delegates at the meeting, Cr. TV". 11. 11. Young expressed the opinion that it would 'be much better to have the freehold than the present leasehold, but it would be advisable to make provision against any speculators securing too much of the land. Replying to a question, the Mayor said the proposed new conditions which were asked for, failing the obtaining of the freehold, were that the term should be 21 years, with re-valuation at the end of the period and proper protection for improvements. Cr. Young: I take it that if the Government agrees to the new condition of the leases, the lessees would have the right of renewal at upset valuations. Mr. R. Matters: The leases will be put up for public auction. The delegates from the Chamber of Commerce arrived at this juncture, and Mr. <T. B. Richards, chairman of the Chamber, said that that body was of the opinion that it would be highly advantageous to the town if the Government agreed to sell the freehold of the railway leases in Broadway. , ' Mr. Masters said that Stratford for many years had wanted the freehold, and he believed there was a very good chance of securing it now. The* policy of the present Governpient was to sell the freehold of the land, and before long they would in all probability get a big shock when they saw the amount of endowment land which was to be sold. Ho believed that it was the intention of the Government to sell the freehold of practically all the national'endowments, excepting, educational reserves, and in the facfe of this policy ho could not sec how the Railway Department could hold out agjynst their request. He knew that the town had been held up for years owing to the railway leases, and on behalf of the Borough Council he was now endeavoring to have a clause inserted in the Municipal Corporation..; Bill making holders of railway leases conform 'to the borough by-laws If the Government was sincere it could not reasonably refuse to give them "the freehold of the leases in Broadway, and he had great hopes that their request would be acceded to. He pointed out, however, that it was very necessary to organise thoroughly, and .get a largelypigned petition from the town asking that the freehold should be granted. It would make Stratford a good town if decent buildings were erected on the eastern side of Broadway. Mr. S. Maealister asked whether the intention was to ask that the right of obtaining be given to the present lessees or to anyone who came along. He thought it should' be clearly defined if the freehold was wanted for the lessees or for tile borough itself. Mr. Masters replied that there was no chance of securing the freehold for the borough, as the borough would no doubt lease the land, and the position would be much the same as at present. What he wanted was that the present lessees should be given the first option of securing the freehold, at a valuation to be Died by the 1 Government. Mr. Richards: Which lessees? The head lessees or the present occupiers? -Mr. Masters: That's a very difficult question to some consideration The Mayor said h?,t the Railway Department in the pat, had. held on to the land in question on lug to the possibility that it might be required for Ailway extensions. That possibility was now removed by the decision of the Department to shift the station to other end of the town. The time had now arrived when the town quite properly shoujd ask the 'Department to sell the freehold, and the fairest way would be to put the land up to public auction; He moved: "That in the opinion of this meeting the Government should be asked to sell the freehold of the railway reserve on the eastern side of Broadway and on the western side of Juliet Street." The motion was seconded by Mr. J.B. Richards, who remarked that it would obviously not be right for the Council and Chamber of Commerce to use their influence for the benefit of just a few individuals. He believed the land should be put )ip for public auction. Cr. S. B. Hunter advocated giving the present lessees the first refusal of the freehold. Cr. W. J. Newton expressed the belief that the present occupiers, and not the original lessees, should be given the first option. The Mayor's motion was then put to the meeting 4nd carried. Cr. Newton moved: "That the present occupiers should be given first option of Requiring the freehold." Mr. W. McDonald seconded. A long and interesting discussion took place on the relative rights of the original lessees (nearly all of whom were stated to be absent from the town), the sub-lessees or present occupiers, and the public who might wish to bid for the land at a public auction. Cr. R. H. Cameron suggested that it should be left to the Government to decide how best to dispose of the land, and after much discussion the motion was withdrawn and this suggestion adopted. It was stated during the discussion that, even if the freehold' was not made available, it was the intention of the Department to submit the land in frontages of approximately. 40 feet. Mr. Masters said that if Stratford was granted »the freehold other places such as Hastings, Gore, and Westport would j ask for'a similar concession. The matter would be oa« of polio; fog tko Q?wa. I

ment. He did not think the movement j to secure the freehold would jeopardise the present proposals in regard to giving better conditions to lessees. Mr. Richards moved that a petition be circulated praying that the Government sell the freehold of the land in question. —The motion was carried. On the motion of Cr. Jackson, a committee consisting of the Mayor, town clerk, and Messrs J. B. Richards and P. Thomson was set up to make arrangements for circulating the petition. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Masters for bringing the matter before the public, and for his valuable help, was carried and the meeting terminated.