CITY RESERVES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 516, 25 May 1909, Page 8

CITY RESERVES.

STATEMENT BY MR. J. P. LUKE. A LOAN MENTIONED. Interviewed by a Dominion representative yesterday, Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., chairman of tho Reserves Committee of the City Council made some interesting remarks concerning tho financial position of the council in connection with the city's reserves and parks, the means at the disposal of tho committee, and tho methods to be adopted if tho policy of extension and completion of the~present grounds is to bo proceeded with. Tho policy of tho council, said Mr. Luke, is in the direction of promoting the well-being of all sections of tho community as far as recreation reserves nro concerned. There has been a good deal of criticism on tho subject of recreation grounds regarding tho facilities accorded to the sports clement in tho city and district. Tho Reserves Committee is alivo to its responsibilities, but it must be rccognu&ir that the committee is working under diffi#»ties when the configuration of the available plots ie borno in mind,, necessitating largo expenditure in bringing even, a small area into use from its primitive stato to a condition of utility. There was no doubt that tho city would need to earmark large sums of moneys to develop the areas in keeping with the 'growing demands oj the people. Under tho Act of last year, which allowed areas aggregating 100. acres to be set asido'from portions of the Town Belt under certain conditions, progress had been made, and the applications from various clubs, wore all'being considered. The committee takes, the view that as nono of the areas would be dealt with by the council,, there could be no objection to their improvement and use by clubs at a small rental A report on the areas available was presented to tho council last month, when thero was somo discussion as to whether the committee had given sufficient consideration to tho details of the scheme. The answer to that was that the wholo schedule was submitted, and a plan was also exhibited showing where the areas were, so that the councillors and the publio could ascertain for themselves. Tho committee was desirous of bringing down a complete schedule of rentals covering the "whole of tho applications, but: an area dealt with last week was a matter of nrjrency so as to allow the now occupiers to makoiiifo of the rainy season. Referrini* ,to/Kelburno Park. Anderson Park, ■and tho Duppa Street grounds, Mr. Lu.ko re marked.that tho committee had been enabled to meet, to a-very largo extent'tho present d<?. mands of tho athletic public when tho grounds nnmed were thrown open. Of course this yenr thero would be a more,or loss conservative policy until the turf was sufficiently matured to warrant continuous play. The committee-is anxious to extend nil reasonable facilities' to snorts bodies, and has instructed the. head gardener ■I? m j?i ns ' fnT ' as Possible tho requirements of th" different clubs. The committee regrets that tlie-money availablo (loos not enable' it to do,, anything just yet to build the, necessary pavilions on' the new parks, and tho loan that was submitted to tho rntopavers somo time a?o for this pnrnose having been rejected, the committee has been thrown back unon tho amonnt of ronnoy that will bo allocated by thr> council out of revenue. Tho nokeen of tho Botanical Gardens, N'wtown Park, etc., is very heavy, and rWe will not ho a very large '• snm nvailaSle for other t.han jnaintfinaiiM during the incoming year nnloes it is broneht about in th<» nature of a loan. The • amount it is expected to ri>lytiVn from the, council this vear is nbnut .*Y>nnfl. but nut of it tho administration and unV«n of the reserves, baths, - and cemeteries linv/) to.be'm<>tv . ■ . • ..-.-■ The committee and tho city ensrineer nrri brincinc? .down nlaT>«. ,nnd ftßtimates for pardon-! for the different narksi and thomattor .will rereivo rarlruttention. ■''■' .:■