THE EXCHANGE OF SITES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8540, 21 September 1907, Page 5

THE EXCHANGE OF SITES.

FURTHER INFORMATION. A MOTION STAYED BY A TECHNICALITY.

The matter of the exchange of sites between the Government and the Mastertnn Trust Lands Trustees came before tha meeting of the Trustees, last evening, for a brief period. Mr W. H. Jackson had given notice to move the following resolution—"That the offer of tne Government regarding the proposed exchange of sites be submitted to a poll of the Trust Lands Trustees." He had risen to speak to his motion, but the chairman (Mr T. B. Michell) ruled that it was not in order. Mr Jackson, however, obtained nermission to read the following letter he had written to Mr A. W.Hogg, M.H.R.:—"My notice of motion re exchange of sites will be discussed on Friday evening next. The Minister has offered to make the exchange on payment by the Trust Lands Trust of £I,OOO, and says that this is a very liberal offer on the part of the Government. This latter statement appears misleading in view of the fact that the Government Valuer's figures make the actual difference in value £995 only. The Government's section in Queen Street has a frontage of 49ft, and is valued at £3,960. The Trust Lands Trust's section has a frontage of 132 ft to Chapel Street and 75ft 6in to Hall Street and is valued at £2,365. The difference in these values in £1,595, and makes the offer appear a very liberal one. I think the Minister must have made his calculation on this basis. The Empowering Act, however, names 42ft as the frontage to be given by the Government, thus reducing the actual difference in value to £995. I feel sure that the Minister was unaware of this reduction in frontage, and that, his offer was meant to cover the actual frontage of the section as given on the Valuation Roll, viz., 49ft. I should be glad if you would point this out to him, if you can possibly get an opportunity of doing so, and wire me the result. It would make all the difference in connection with the negotiations for the exchange." Mr Hogg telegraphed in reply : "The Minister of Justice undertakes to convey the full section, having 49ft frontage to Queen Street, in terms of the offer made to the Trustees."

Mr Jackson explained that the Trust were thereby gaining an extra seven feet in the Queen Street frontage, of the value of about £6OO. This meant that there was now only a difference of £4OO between the value of the sections, and he urged that it would be excellent business on the part of the Trust to effect the exchange. He persisted in his efforts to move his motion, but the Chairman ruled it out of order, as he said there could be no such thing as a "poll of the Trust Lands Trustees." Mr Jackson explained that the word "voters" after "Trustees" in his motion had been inadvertently emitted, and he asked the Chairman to allow him to technically amend his motion, the meaning of which was obviously clear. Messrs Caselberg, Eton and Krahagen considered that as a matter of courtesy to Mr Jackson, he should be allowed to amend his resolution, but the Chairman remained firm throughout. Eventually Mr Jackson obtained leave to move his motion, with the required amendment, at a special meeting of the Trustees to be held on Wednesday, October 2nd.