COST OF RECREATION

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 4

COST OF RECREATION

THE CITY'S BILL riIOI'OSALS TO DEDUCE LOSS. Tho proposal -which came before the City Council on Thursday night to charge footballers and players of other winter games lor tho privilege of playing on tho city reserves, more especially tho Basin Roserve, would, if put into etfcct, rcduco very slightly tho cost of the reserve to the city. Another method which Wellington seeks to adopt to recoup its huge outlay is embodied in a clause in a Hill now before Parliament, empowering tho council to make a chargo for admission to grounds on thirty days in each year. At present a chargo may bo made on ton days only per year. Tho clause increasing tile number of days was struck out of tho Bill by tho Local Bills Oomuiittoo,bbu t of course, it may btill bo reinserted by tho llouso in Committee. In view of the decision of tho council to do something to tnako tho pcoplo usiug tho reserves pay at least part of tho cost of putting them, and keeping them, in order, it may Ix 3 interesting to discover what the annual loss on reserves is. In tho statement of tho city's accounts of last year, tho income received from reserves, excluding Newtown Park and tho Botanical Gardens, was shown as ,£1033 Bs. lid. Tho expenditure was .£7838 10s, 9d., tho balance being made up by a transfer from general account of. £0756 Is. lOd. The loss on tho Botanical Gardens was £1790 18s. Id., so that the total loss on tho reserves, excluding Newtown,Park, where thero is a Zoo, which costs money also, was £85W 19s. lid. This amount is computed without taking account of interest on tho loan, out of which several of the newer groimds wero mado. Tho. amount of the loan was .£27,000, but tho total cost was .£31,000. Takinp no account of tho extra £4000, tho bill which tho city has to pay tor interest at i per cent., and sinking fund at one per cent., is £1350. So that tho annual bill of which tho city wants to pay a part by making a levy on citizens by way of admission chargo?, is £9896 19s. lid. Tho Cricket Association likewise want assistance in order to keep tha summer gamo going. They spend annually about £100, and they find this amount difficult enough to raise by levies on tho clubs, and on individual players. II charges were made for admission to their matches, tho oouncil would no doubt mako somo of the revenue bo obtained available to pay for tho preparation of wickets.