TENNIS CLUB LEASE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17978, 25 March 1930, Page 6

TENNIS CLUB LEASE.

DOMAIN BOARD’S ACTION. UNANIMOUSLY CONDEMNED. A COMMISSION SUGGESTION. The attitude of the Hamilton Tennis Club towards the much-discussed question of their lease from the Domain Board of the Rosstrevor Street area was defined at a special-meeting of members and debenture-holders of the club last evening. r Fhe meeting was convened primarily to discuss the position of the deben-ture-holders in the club. The pressident, Mr R. D. McFarland, presided. The chairman reviewed the history of the negotiations, resulting in the laying down of the Rosstrevor Street •courts. In 1920 the Tennis Club had spent over £2OOO in improving what was then unoccupied Domain lands in Rosstrevor Street. About £7OO had be.en found in -cash, £.1400 was raised by loan, £SOO of which had since been repaid, leaving a balance of £9OO owing to debenture-holders. It was hoped that certain moneys would he available this year to reduce this amount, added the chairman. Trouble, however, had arisen, as the Domain Board was insisting upon the payment by the club of a substantial sum as rent, and, the club, failing to comply with the Domain Board’s request, there would be no money available now or in the future to repay debenture-holders. It was stated that in 1920, when the Tennis Club spent the £2OOO odd forming the Tennis Club’s 'courts, it was the intention of both the Board and the Tennis Club that the land should be given rent free to the club for 14 years. Intention of Parties. Mr McFarland carefully reviewed the evidence provided by the minutes and the correspondence in regard to the intentions of the parties during the negotiations. At the. conclusion of the chairman’s remarks a general discussion took place, and the following resolution was •carried unanimously:— “That this meeting is of the •opinion that In 1’920, when the Hamilton Tennis Society, Incorporated, spent over £2OOO improving Domain Board lands in Rosstrevor Street, it was the intention both of the board and of Hie society that the land should be given rent free to the society for 14 years, and this meeting therefore considers that the Domain Board is wrong in asking payment of rent by the society before the period of 14 years has elapsed.” Lands Improved. The meeting considered that the question of the payment of rent depended entirely upon the intention of 1 both parties at the time the Tennis Club was actually spending the large sum of money in improving the Domain lands in question, and to elucidate the position it made a further recommendation to be sent to the Domain Board: — “That a commission be appointed to take evidence regarding the intention of the parties at the time of the forming of the courts and that both parties consent to abide by the ruling of the commission.” At a subsequent meeting of the de-benture-holders of the Tennis Club Messrs «. Yalder, D. V. Bryant, and H. D. Matthews, of Hamilton, were elected trustees for and on behalf of the debenture-holders.