ASSUMING CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 66, 13 August 1947, Page 5

ASSUMING CONTROL

WHAKATANE DOMAIN AREAS BOROUGH COUNCIL’S RESPONSIBILITY The transfer of the control of the Whakatane Domain areas from the Administrative Board which has been in office for some 20 years to the Borough Coun cil was officially accomplished last Monday evening when members of the Board (Messrs. C. A. Suckling and I. Hubbard) attended the August Council meeting and handed over records and accounts.

Mr Suckling said-that it had been :felt by members for some years that the Board’s resources had been too limited to meet the demands of the ■ sporting organisations for improved facilities. Since the war this feeling had grown in view of the increasing number. of sports bodies formed in the town. The Council it was thought, with its greater reserves of finance, its plant and labour would be in a far better position to control the Domain. As a consequence the Board was very happy to hand over the administration to the Council,' with the fullest confidence that the same policy envisaged by the Board to cater for all branches of sport in the town, would be fully applied. Mr Hubbard expressed appreciation of the work and co-operation of Messrs. Suckling, Spring and Hendersonr and added that the whole Board in the past felt disappointed that they had not been able to de-

velop the very fine grounds at their disposal as they should be developed.

The Mayor said he was certain the public of Whakatane was much indebted to the Board for the wondreful work which it had done in past years, much-of which it was realised, being - carried out under great difficulties. The Council would he pleased to take over and assume ■control.

The Mayor pointed out that the Council had apparently assumed control of two district domains—one the Whakatane and two, the Eivers Beach domain, totalling 16 acres in all. On his suggestion it was decided to write the Minister of Lands .seeking permission to bring both areas under the one heading. A letter from the Cricket Club sought permission to use the show grounds this summer instead of the football area as in the past. If this were granted, a turf pitch would be laid down and the pavilion transferred to the other ground. The council decided to reply that it was not in a position to give an ■answer to the request until the terms of the new lease to the A. and P. Society had been finalised, but that'the matter would be taken up with that organisation. The following terms of lease of the Showgrounds to the A. and P. Society recommended by the Finance Committee were adopted and will be submitted to that organisation:—

(a) That the rental be £75 per annum for a period of 10 years and that the rental for the balance of the term be at such rate as is mutually agreed upon at the end of the first 10 -year period, and that failing agreement that the rental be fixed by Arbitration, but in no case ,to be less than £75 per annum. (b) Term—That the lease be for .-a term of 21 years commencing from the date of granting of the said lease.

(c) That Clause 9 (a) of the existing lease be amended giving the right to the public, sports and other ■ organisations to use the grounds on other days than show days.