DOMAIN IMPROVEMENTS

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1948, Page 4

DOMAIN IMPROVEMENTS

No Sound Shell Yet; Need For More Seating The question of the provision of a sound shell at the Levin park Domain, as suggested by the . Levin Boys' Military Band, will not b© •pursued further in the meantime, but be kept in mind as a possible means of improving the facilities 'and probably again eonsidered at a 'mpre opportune time. ' This w.as the decision reaehed at |a repr.es entative meeting of sports badies and organisations in the Levin School on Wednesday night. •The meeting was called by the iBoys' Band and its president, Mr. H. A. Robertson, was elected chair'.man at the opening of the discus,sion.- _ ' .

On taking the chair, Mr. RoDerrson said that the provision of a sound shell was not the only object of the band members, who were also desirous' of bringing about improvements in other directions. The idea of members was to obtain the feelings of other ' hodies, and form a committee wb-ich couxd draw up plans for' submission to the Borough Council for approval. Mr. Robertson then introduced Mr. M. H. Boyce of the band, who •outlined the scheme. The question of a sound shell for Levin had been discussed originally at the annual meeting of.the band, said Mr. Boyce. Mr. Luke, of the [Wellington City Council, had recently proceeded overseas to 'investigate the very latest developments in sound shells and would come back with a report which might b'e of guidance .to Levin if it decided to 'erect one on the domain. A sound shell would be a big * imp'rovement on the old fashioned rotundas. Also visualised by the band was skating rink and better seating ' accommo'dation and other improvecontinued Mr. Boyce. If a • sound shell were erected it could also Sbe used for outdoor concert parties, sMaori items and Highland dancing displays. It would also be invalulable as a public speaking platform on such occasions as the Royal visit. It was as good as a theatre, and a speaker or vocalist could be heard by a gr.eater audience at a great distance with very little ieffort. It could also be equipped Jwitlf recording apparatus so that music could he obtained for the 'skating pink. However, the band ! would. also give f ull support to any other .suggestions in the way of imorovement. . ■ .

He. eonsidered Levin was one oi the -"deadest" places in New Zealand on Sundays and holidays, most of the young people having to go out of town for entertainment, said Mr. Robertson. The. great thmg was to hav.e finance. • Asked by one or the delegates what" av sound shell would cost, Mr. Boyce said that they had not as yet gone into that aspect fuliy, as a great deal would depend on Mr Luke's ■ report. Also, the band wished first to test. the feeling of Ihe meeting. - During the discussion which followed it was .evident that the majority were not in favour of th,e continuation of the sound shell project. . . . Representing the Levin Municipal Band, Mr. R. A. Frederikson said that he eonsidered that the sound shell scheme should be "put on the shelf for a long time." The only two other places in the Dominion which had sound shells 'were Napier and Timaru, and both these towns had a tremendous visiting population. He was certain. that Levin's population did not warrant such a structure. More people went away from Levin on holidays than came to it. The Municipal Band, however, looked to an improvement of the seating accommodation on the domain, and in this regard he eould guarantee wholehearted support to anything along those lines from his organisation.

On behalf of the Women's Institute, Mrs. C. C. Banfield said that she eonsidered it was far too. early yet to give an opinion. For the Ratepayers' Association, Mr. H. Rippin said he could not, of course, coynmit his association, but personally he would support Mr. Frederikson. Mr. C. Wilkinson, speaking for the Rugby Union, said that seating accommodation would be welcomed more by his organisation. As a purely interested party, Mr. J. H. Cooper said that he wa's firmly behind any move to make improvements on the dpmain. With a little work the ground could be made the best in New Zealand. Some visiting cyclists had said to him that they wished Auckland had such a ground. The track was one oi the best and fastest in the Dominion, said Mr. Cooper, and at the last meeting the time establLhied on the local track was three quarters of a second faster than on any track in the British Empire. It had. not yet been beaten. Some office space was required on the domain, as previously a tent had to be used..- Seating was another problem beeause many of thfe older people would not go along to the domain on account of the fact that they had nothing to sit on. Mr. V. E. Hudson said he was representing the Boy Scouts' Committee, but, speaking as a citizen, he would like to thank the band committee for having the courage to bring forward the proposal, which had certainly provoked interesting discussion and perhaps results. It was very laudable indeed, and he appreeiated that an effort to do something was being made. After further discussion the chairman said that it seemed that perhaps the Boys Band had been a

little soon in presenting the proposal, but that it was willing to give full support fto any other improvements which those present thought were necessary. No reflections were being cast on any local body, it wa's only desired that it receive the backing of the sports bodies, and the council would probably weicome any suggestions as coming from the citizens and with their support. Many ideas were forthcoming as to the best way of providing additional seating, the cutting of terraces and the asphalting of them, in view of the timber shortage, being one proposal. It was suggested that as the sports bodies had in the past readily supplied voluntary labour to carry out improvements, their assistance could once again be sought. At the close of the meeting a resolution was pas'sed, thanking the Boys' Ban'd for its efforts and requesting it to carry on until a committee could be formed. It was felt by many of those present that more support would have _ been forthcoming from other bodies if they had understood that the sound shell was not the only project in which the band was interested, and it was suggested that the band committee recontact the public bodies in the district outlining the full aims of the band, and that a further meeting be called on July 14. Present at the meeting were: Mesdames C. C. Banfield and G* Maugham, and Messrs. V. E. Hudson (Levin Boy Scouts) ; E. R. McIntyre (Horowhenua Pipe Band) ; C. H. Nelson and R. A. Frederikson (Levin Municipal Band) ; H. Palmer (St. John Ambulance Brigade) ; M. H. Boyce, J. Collett and H. A. Robertson (Levin Boys' Military Band) ; C. Wilkinson (Horowhenua Rugby Union) ; H. RippiA (Levin Ratepayers' Association) ; and J. H. Cooper.