JOINT VENTURE

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1949, Page 4

JOINT VENTURE

Scouts And Rifle Club Seek New Home The Levin Boy, Scouts and Levin Miniature Rifle Club fear .that their 'part tenancy of the Drill Hall in Oxford Street North is likely to be short lived with the prospect of ' the introduction of compulsory military training. They also desire more floor space than is allowed them at the hall, and more time -ha which to train. With this en'd in view, they have joined forces and plan to build a nome of ' their own, so, constructed rthat there will be" no conflict' ifef activities. They hope to erect ]the building on the newly-develop-ed Playford Park and on Monday night placed- the suggestion before the Levin Borough Council. . The 'deputation from both bodies, led by Mr. V. E. Hudson, chairman of the Boy Scout Committee comprised Messrs. H. Palmer, H. Allwood, M. deL. Wright and 'A. Fletcher. When presenting the case for the scouts, Mr. Hudson said that they - had been in three different buildings, the present one costing them £13 a year in rent. There were 65 boys in the cubs, plus a long waiting list, an*d 40 in the scouts. It was hoped to enlarge the scout movement in Levin and reinstate the senior scout troops and, possibly the Rovers, which catered for the older age groups. In order to Carry d*t efficient and regular training they would have to have the use of a building fairly eofltinuously and this was not possible in the Drill Hall, which might in any case yet be taken over by the military authorities. For the rifle club, Mr. Wright stated that the club had 40 members on the mounds every club night, with the result that younger" members were not receiving proper . coaching. There had also been complaints of the noise created during shoots." Outiining the plan for the proposed building, Mr. Fletcher said that it was the intention to excavate the site and the butts would be concreted to prevent noise. The scouts would have their clubhouse above the rifle range. What was required was the allocation of a certain area of Playford Park for. ;the erection of such a building. |The work would be carried out by ;the scouts and the rifle club members. In reply to a question from the I Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, Mr. I Hudson said that the scouts had [received considerable support for [their scheme in regard to the securing of materials and labour. So far nothing had been done at Playford Park except the allocating of the camping ground, but he would promise that the scheme outlined would receive consideration when the final planning of the area was undertaken, said Mr. Burdekin. He could assure ' the deputation that the council was sympathetic to both activities and realised their value in the community. , ,