EXCHANGE OF SITES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9114, 13 June 1908, Page 5

EXCHANGE OF SITES.

AGAINSBEFURE TRUST LANDS TRUST. DECISIVE ACTION TAKEN. At the meeting of the Masterton Trust, Lands Trustees, last evening, correspondence bearing on the question of the exchange of sites was road from Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., and from the Minister of Justice to Mr Hogg. Mr Hogg said in his letter that since the recent election he had communicated with the Minister, re the terms of exchange, and the latter had ngreed to include the right of-way in Queen street leading to the Police Station, and, further, that the £I,OOO asked by the Department could be spread over a period of years. Mr Hogg stated that an Empowering Act would be necessary to carry out the exchange on these terms, and he asked for. early notice :n connection therewith. The Minister's letter stated that the Department was still prepared to make the exchange on the terms previously proposed, and urged an early settlement of the matter, as the erection of a new Police Station was being held over pending a settlement. Mr W. H. Jackson proposed that two members of the Trust waitrupon the Minister to discuss with him the question of exchange of sites, and report to the '.trustees any proposal agreed upon. The Chairman (Mr T. B. Michell) stated that Mr Campbell, the Government architect, had visited Masterton about three weeks prior to the election, and stated to the speaker that the erection of a new Police Station was about to be proceeded with. In a conversation in connection with the matter the speaker had made a suggestion to offer the Department the Hall street section and the corner section of the Trutt in Dixon stree'. opposite the main Park gate, the latter to be in consideration of any inequality of exchange. Mr C. E. Dar.ifcil agreed with Mr Jackson's proposal re the deputa;ion, and seconded the motion. Mr 0. Pragnell considered the Trustees should commence the exchange of site question de novo, as ifthere had been n.-i offer. The deputation should get to the bedrock of v. hat could he obtained for the Hall street site, and the Trustees could then accept or rejtct, a= they though*; ft. This view was generally approved. Mr H. C. Robinson said he would like to see a p'~c!i-nhsry agreement signed between the Minister and the deputation, to form the basis of a Bill to be put before the House. H-3 urged expediency in whatever was done, as the session would bs slnrt. Eventually Mr Jackson's motion was carried unanimously, and the 'trustees agreed upon thy itrma upon which they wira pepared to exchange the silos, one of which was the offer of the Hall and Dixon stieet sections withcut any money payment. ■ ■ t Tne Chairman and Messrs Pragnell and Jackson were appointed the deputation to wait upon the Minister.