CITY PLAYGROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1171, 5 July 1911, Page 2

CITY PLAYGROUNDS.

0- • SEEKING REVENUE. DISCUSSION BY; THE COUNCIL. Attempts have, often been mntle lo aug* ment the sources from which the City Council derives revenue far (he support of public playgrounds and still another attempt was made las\ evening, whor Councillor Frcst moved:— That the city solicitor bo instructed (o include in the Bill now being prepared, empowering tho council to charge for admission to (ho "Zoo," •• a furllv/i , clause confining similar power lo mnice charges for admission lo the constructed playgrounds on the city.reserves, or, say, twenty days ia' eacli year. All would agree, ho said, that the lime hail arrived when the sports bodies should contribute something towards tho upkeep of city playgrounds, which,had b«en constructed by Iho city, nt heavy cost. I) tho days upon which a chargo could be mado for admission were increased In number, Iho cijy would bo able to get n certain amount of revenue from thes« bodies. At present a chargo could Iμ made for admission to certain grounds on (en days in each year, but there was a demand by sports bodies for three or four times as many days. -.If this proposal could be given effect to, additional revenue would be obtained, which could be spent in beautifying portions of tin Town Belt. Councillor Frost added that he had conferred with various roprosen< tatives o£ city sports bodies. They unreservedly favoured the proposal, and had offered to assist by organising a public mooting when the matter camo before Parliament.

In seconding tho motion, Councillor Shii'l'clifl'o remarked that, with the growth of snorts bodies that had taken placo in Wellington during the past few years, the existing rights of charging for admission were (totally inadequate to enable sports bodies to pay their way. Given' effect to the proposal would go Eomo way towards earning interest on tho enormous sums the council had spent oa grounds.

. Councillor Fletcher said ho was perfectly in favour of the resolution.. Hβ had no desire to exclude people from their own property, but it would benefit the city generally if boidc additional revenue could bo obtained. There might l>o some difficulty, however, in getting tho proposal through the House. Councillor M'Lnrcn: "No hope." ■"Nevertheless, said Councillor Fletcher, Wellington should take tho lead in the matter and bring it up again. Councillor M'Laren opined that there was little likelihood that Parliament would approve the. alteration proposed. Members from districts where suitable recreation areas were mono plentiful would want to know why the Wellington sports bodies could not provide for them, selves in tho matter of grounds. After somo further discussion Councillor Cameron remarked that something like .£20,000 per annum was being spent on reserves, and they returned 'only about £M per annum. A deputation of citizens and representatives of sports bodiei should interview the Government on the matter. Ho felt sure that if this were done tho city would be granted somo relief in the upkeep of reserves. The burden had become too heavy. Councillor Frost's resolution was caN nod unanimously.