RECREATION GROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 14

RECREATION GROUNDS.

'ATHLETIC BODIES AND MUNICIPAL' CANDIDATES.

The associated sports bodies recently issued ft oironlar to all lot tho candidates for seats on the City Council, asking whether they were . in fanrar el obtaining information from Melbourne and Sydney as to the management of recreation grounds, in those cities, and also whether they favoured tho City Council obtain- ' ing a share in the control of the Hutt Park. Many of the replios that have camo to hand indicate that the' writers are not fully acquainted with the position in regard to tho Hutt Park. It is briefly that in 1907 tho control of the old Hutt Racecourse was vosted in trusteesjfor tho purposes of recreation. The bodies represented in tho board of trustees, which was brought into being by tho Hutt Fart Aot, ore the Petono, Lower Hutt, and Eastbourne Borough Councils. Wellington was entitled to a share of the control, but, owing to somo oversight or misunderstanding, it is presumed, on the part of the City Council, the conned did not secure it. The representation involves no oxponditure, but morefy means that the City Council will have a voice in dealing with the manner in which the ground shall be used. The storts bodies committee is replying to several candidates, pointing out to thein the real state of affairs. Tho foUowing replies, which havo been abbreviated, wore supplied to a Dominion reporetr by the committee,/ which assumed that tho candidates would nave no objection to the publication of their views: ' , . . Prom Mr D. Mluren:-"(1) I w ffl be roady to move that reports bo obtained from - the Melbourne and Sydney. City Councils as to the methods and conditions under which tho re--oreahon grounds of.these cities are administered and controlled, with a view to tho adoption of similar methods and conditions, if suitaoio. J. Havo already acquired somo knowledge on this subject, and lmvo talked tho matter over with our raty engineer, who is convorsant with the conditions, obtaining in Melbonr.n», nm.n/u 1 W ad to ha .™ reports prpcurablo; (2) I am not in favour of tho city taking a share in tho control of tho Hutt Park "I consider the city has enough to contro .Within its own boundaries at tho present time " .w? v^ tr- ■^ lh T- Seatdn:-«I shall, if, elected, be willing to assist in getting data as , to the'methods adopted in Sydney and Mel-1 ™™3 " \l tho ■?? nbc ° l ° f tho recreation grounds in thoso citus, and to uso mv endeav- * m Sf Acts repealed or nmendod so that sports bodice will havegreator freedom. In reference t 0 the second question, I have not tho Hutt PaTk Act of 1907 by me\ and am not conversant with its details, but it seoina reasonable that the City Council should I SSmTh, 0, ? 1^ 1, v" 1 J would to assist in that direction. . „ .Prom Mr. W..H. THorrah : -"With reference to tho circular issued by the sports bodies whilst as an old athlolo I sympathise withCr desires in connection with sports grounds, I havo to inform you that there are a great num- ' rif i ff" h H wa ? of tu ° City Council in dealing with the grounds. • In regard' to Clause 1 of you circular, the member!of . thei Besoms Committee are well aware of the methods pursued in Sydney and Melbourne, , Tf'S 10 '"- ? re ipet with this difficulty: At Newtown Park and tho Basin Eeservo, under Aot of Parliament, permission . can bo given to make a charge at the gates on-only ten days in tho year, and the samo restricfaons apply to tho new'ground at Duppa Street. ' The council would, I think, be only too willing to lease these grounds to the clubs with certain reservations as to the .right of access for TH?i I £' • .°V T ' !I 7' occasion on which a Bill has bepn introduced in Parliament to give the conned poater Irecdom,, the "lights of the Jeople . has been- the bogy, and the Bill has been rejected. I am still willing to make another effort to havo a Bill introduced to alter these restrictions. As] regards tho Hutt Park, the difficulty m connscHon with this is the ?>TmS n * mOnoy ; Tiie council "quires about .£IO,OOO to properly complete tho grounds at Anderson. Park, Kelbnmo,' and Duppa Strat ana as you are aware, this money was refused by tho ratepayers. 1 consider that these grounds must bo finished before tho city can * SifiTft A n & f -S rt t er - m connection with the Hutt Park. '■ But, if possible, at a iater date, I would b« in favour of the city I obtaining a share in the control of this park/' move the City,.Connci? m tho two directions indicated in jour'letter. My connection with various athletic organisations in the city has led me to form the conclusion that a better system of administration a*d control-of the i city reserves is desirable , from many, stand-I P° ln »- I' the system in.yoguo in ifelbonrno and brdney % is an improvement on tho present system obtaining here (and my general knowledge of the Australian cities' system leads mo to believe it is), I wil], if' elected, do my utmost to secure tho adoption in "Wellington of ' ~ ™P ro T ed system. Itegarding the control of the Hutt Park, I am ot opinion that although i 13 v that a share in the control of tho Hutt Park wan not obtained by the Wellington City 'Corpoiation at the'outset, it 15 by no means too late to move in tho matter. The Hutt Park is a valuable asset, and its uso by_ the sports bodies of Wellington, whoso numerical strongth is increasing rapidly every year, and by thpse of 'the suburban borough would greatly relieve tho, congestion in tho matter of suitable playing grounds in or adjacent to tho city." ' From Mr. J. J. Dovino:—"As to', question No. I: I would certainly be propared to obtain the reports mentioned, butj until* I ,have porused them and considered ths special circumstances (if any) that might affect local conditions, I, cannot say absolutely that I would supp'ort tho adoption of similar methods and conditions in Hellicston. As to question No. 2: As to the control of the Hutt Parlc, I consider that Wellington,, as a matter of'contiguity and othor- , wise, is as'muoh entitled to participate therein as, say, Eastbourne. If, aa a matter of fact the athletic bodies, of Wellington, -with the increased "recreation grounds provided, or being provided by the City CouncU, will not nave sufficient outlet (or their exercises, I would be propared to rapport tho suggestion that the City Council obtain a share of the' control in tho Hutt Pu-k,' conditionally ,, on -- there being no tax on tho city ratepayers, nor any serious loss of revenue to the city thereby " From Air. J. Smith:—"l am quite -willing , to 'get'the information naked for, and "if. it'is an improvement to endeavour to 1 nore. I oan see no objection to," Wellington having a share in the .control of the Hutt Park, and will assist in that direction " P.'om Mr W. Higginbottom:-" Question No. I—l would bo in favour of getting these reports, and if they are found,'to be .better methods than we have in Wellington would do my best to get them adopted 'or -amended - to Burt. as the caso may be. Question .No'.' 2If Wellington city has any moral-or legal'right or standing in its connection with, the-Hutt Park,.then the Act in,relation^thereto.iought to be amended so --as ,to :giv©tWellihgton-'City: its proper place; and- status,;andSEwouldiiDro-' peed accordingly,; if■:elected."'^"W^-..*"" ■;.-■■ FronttMr:,. ,W.-.--IL. Bennett-£# Swbuid,^ii' my opinion;;:be an : advimtageVtd' obtain ."the* information •suggested/-/ If ; oii4receipt "of••such : information,: the conditions aroS'fomidSfoSbe" suitable to. our grounds aid-resorves,- , !-''see-no' , reason, why: they should inotbo adoptedihere ; I also think that the cityiehould be representeil , on the, controlling -bodyj of the' Hutt-Parfc-which monopolisiid■ by one brancK'of; eport only; at least, it soi'appeared to me when , visiting, it with /the WeUington Harriers oi» ; occasions." ,;;! ■''>.-■ ■ • . , ■-. .•.-.- ; «ji ' Fr ?m^ rv J..PLuke,M:P,#'l am in agreed montwith No. l.as far as-getting the informa-; tion is/concerned. I do!not think we should ' ngreea -to-adopt their, methods and.conditions until we have made onrselves familiar with the details.-. It may be they;!would'not be so advantageous /to /the spirit,: and development of recreation _ as rules we,'could frame, having • « P \? nd OUT ow . n e*P«rience to build. on As to Wo. 2,1 am in favour of developing'our pwn resourcea for the requirements'.'of the(athletic bcdies. To ; carry out/the work alreddy . engaging the_senoug attention of the council, togetber with the claim a; on the city's funds i «u. he *? l i:. ar e partly prepared, and tether the-bringing into use for sports purposes of areas -on the Town Belt willfor eomo time be a considerable strain on 'the finances; and, if re-i)lected to>the council I .mil endeavour out. as far aa funds .will permit the works already set forth " Mr. James Trevor replied, to the effect that ho was ;m favour of obtaining the information mentioned in ; Question 1. In regard to the . secondvqueshonj 'he, thought they should have '«™ grounds more convenient than the Hutt Eacecourse, but if the; city could not find grounds, to .supply to. the youths for recreation purposes, he would; irapport ; a scheme to gam control by, Hutt Park Act Prom Councillor Q. W, Shirtcliffe.—"l beg . to say that, as a/momber of-the present Eeeorves Committee, and also as one who was in tho somewhat, distant past . connected with several,athletic:'..bodies, I; am of opinion that every possible facility shoxdd be granted for the enconragement of athletics. I should be in favotir. of .obtainine reports' from,'the:.Melbourne and Sydney Councils as .to the methods and conditions under which •. the recreation those citiesare administered and controlled, although I wouhi necessarily retain an open mind ; reeardin? their adoption bere until I had an opportunity of consideringtheir suitability to onr local conditions. , With regard to the suggested-jacnuircment by the council pf an interest ii. the Hutt Park, I am not in favour of the Council outeida^

ita own boundaries at present. Apart from the doubtfulness of the : cfty being able to obtain a proportionate share of the use of the park at a reasonable cost, we have within the city boundaries, in addition to tho Newtown Park and Basin Beserve, the Duppa Street, Anderson. Put, and Kelburne Park grounds, on which, the council has spent some during the past two gears, and which are now practically completed, while further areas, aggregating some 58 aaree, have just been allocated for recreation purposes, and these, I think, should be' made available for use bofore going outside the city at probably a heavy cost for problematical benefit. •Aβ a business proposition, I think also it would be well for . the council to develop all the available nroas that can be served by the corporation tramways, and thus not only augment the earnings of that important/undertaking, but assist in the general beautification scheme of tho city." Mr. M. J. Keardon expressed himself in favour of securing the fullest information on the matter and giving sports bodice every opportunity of using the grounds and of exercising such control over them as would recompense them for any outlay. Ho was certainly in favour of the:city's getting a share in tho control of the Hutt Park. , The present number of grounds was insufficient, and as the loan' proposals for. further grounds were thrown out; he was in favour of giving portions of the Town Belt to sports bodies at a peppercorn' rental, making them responsible for the interest on moneys expended on improvements: at the 6ame time, giving. them power ■ to prevent vandalism and to Mcoup themselves for any expenditure. ■■:. > ... .■.Mr.:.W. H.UHampton informs us that he does not favour any;attempt by the City. Council.to seenro a voice in the control of the Hutt Park, but supports, the obtaining of the suggested; information' from Sydney ; and Melbourne, to decide whether or not he deems, if suitable of application to local conditions." ;■*="• i.

-The following enndidatee have answered in the simple affirmativo to both questions put— Messrs. A. H. Fullfofd, V. Jensen, Falk Cohen, Jolin Aston, Len. MTCenzie, C. H. Chapman. Councillor 8.-FleloEir is quite willing to secure all the information available on the point raised ,by ;the circular. As to - the city's obtaining ;a jljare; jn Jho control of the Hutt Parlc.vho sees no -reason why tho counoil could not "move in' the v *<lirection : indicated -with a view to future requirements. , .' .Messrs. E, "'J:' Caroy. and C. H.- Chapman onddrso the oircular; , •." ■ ■ ; . ■ .