A DEPUTATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 238, 15 November 1940, Page 5

A DEPUTATION

" * domain- board waits on BOROUGH COUNCIL

• : OFFER OF CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS POWER MOWER l . Following the Borough Council s decision at last month's meeting to proceed with the purchase of a horse mower in preference to the more expen-» sive power mower a deputation from the Domain Board waited on the council on Monday night with the object of securing a revision of the matter with a "view to assistance in controlling the growth of the grass in the Domain. An offer of £100, in* four annual instalments, was made towards the cost of the power unit, but considerable discussion was the sole result, j': The deputation comprised Messrs A. Brabant and C. A. Suckling, -with an apology tendered on behalf of Mr Sutherland.. The Case For., Mr Brabant said the grass in the "Domain was growing fast and made the Domain an unpleasant place. He referred to the council's deliberations on the mower -purchase and asked that further consideration •should be given, stressing the convenience of a power mower. The advantages of such a unit were many,, he said. Though a large num foer of men ha<l left the district to .join the forces many remained and provision had to be made for them :and for the general public; parti-cularly-for the younger people—the sportsmen of to-morrow. At the Domain Board's last meeting it had been thought that the board could pay £25 per annum for ■four years as a contribution to'\vards the cost of the power moAver. Mr Suckling said the ':utting of 'the grass presented a serious prob- » "lem and it was impossible to cater "for the sportsmen's needs. The use -of a power unit would keep the "turf in proper order and the only "way to have that use was by' co* •operation with the Borough Coun--cili

Handicapping School Children. Though it had nothing to do with the board it was felt that the Bor•migh had sufficient use for a motor mower to warrant its purchase, said 3ir Suckling, who* added that f-though many men had left the district school children used the playing fields and they were struggling -along under a great handicap. The board had. no, method of adequately 'discharging its responsibilities in Vfhis direction. Answering the Mayor, the deputation thought that a cut once a fortnight would be sufficient; Mr .'Suckling adding that suggestion ; had been made to have sheep on the "Domain. That suggestion was not practicable because it would involve ♦considerable fencing. The Borough Council had given -considerable thought to the matter and appreciated the needs and position of the Board, said His l Worship the Mayor. The council wanted to •encourage sport but finance was the trouble. However, in the light of the offer made by the board the council would give the subject further consideration. Council Discussion. "Following the departure of the deputation, the Mayor said there was-no doubt that the motor mower "was desirable if the council could •afford it, but the work in the borough. did not justify ,the purchase, the council having a public dutj r to 'the Regarding the offer of

£25 per annum for' four years the

said that the cost of cutting grass in the Domain would a- . nipunt to the board's contribution. V'r Shapley said the deputation hadNpresented its case very neatly. Years •ago the council formed a Domain Board because it could not " maintain jts responsibilities. The •system tit present used for the cutting and collection of grass on the •streets was a waste of man-power and in that way alone a motor' mower would be of great benefit to the borough. The cost of the unit would be considerably reduced by the trade-in allowance on the old machine and the Doniain Board's contribution. Origin of Domain Board. Cr Sullivan said that if the Do>main Board contributed £25 per an- ■ lium and the council had to return that by services rendered the offer -amounted to nothing. He would Tiave to oppose the purchase of such sin expensive machine while new roads and footpaths were urgently

needed, said the councillor, adding that lor the linancial year to date the council had spent over £1000 on works not included in the estimates, There was more work to be done. No one would be opposed to the purchase of Hie unit if the council could afford it—it could not at tho moment: Referring to Or Shapley's allegations that the Domain Board was formed because a former Borough Council felt the Domain to be a burden, Gr Sullivan explained that i at the time of the formation several sports bodies nominated a board which would take over the control of the Domain, the bodies to contribute towards maintenance and a levy of 10 per cent to be made on gate-takings for football matches and other ocacsions when a charge Avas made for admission. The levy was never collected.

Cost of Cutting.

"It comes back to the same old principle that the ratepayers are asked to provide facilities for the sports," said Cr Sullivan. The Wha katane Sports Club, in its day, had been wont to provide its own facilities and look after the ground, and the club had done well; The sportsmen today wanted everything to be provided for them,, whereas, if they were interested they would put their shoulders to the Avheel.

Cr Armstrong said that the tradein value of the council's present equipment, together with the £100 offered by the Domain , Board, would considerably reduce the price of £326 quoted for the power mower. The board asked for the grass to be cut fortnightly. That meant eight times over a season of four months. At two hours each time; sixteen hours would be needed to keep the ground in order. He .could not see that sixteen hours would cost the amount of the board's annual subscription as , suggested by Cr Sullivan. Apart from the question of cost,, the school boys used the Domain and these boys had to be fostered. He urged reconsideration. ■ Mayor's Statement. That it was a matter which could be deferred" Avas the opinion expressed by Gr Otlcy, who said that the council must remember its obligations to the ratepayers and it was definite that the borough's finances would not permit of the purchase. "Is the council justified "in the suggested capital expenditure just for cutting the grass in the Domain?'? asked the Mayor. "Cr Shapley spoke at length and dealt mainly in half-truths. He said it was the council's duty to cut the grass in the Domain, but it is the Domain Board's. As chairman of the Finance Committee, I can assure you that we are not in a position to spend £300 on a mofwer. The half-yearly statements show well but.if. we spend other monies the works programme cannot be carried out." There was -no motion and the council passed on to consideration of other business.