RATES ON SPORTS GROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1827, 13 August 1913, Page 6

RATES ON SPORTS GROUNDS.

REMISSION QUESTION", • -The question of the remission.of rates on sports grounds was discussed at a meeting of delegates from tho various yports bodies of the city, held on Monday evening. Mr. C. P. Skerrett, who presided, said that the meeting had boon convened by tho New, Zealand _ Sporls Protection League (of which he is president) "with a view to helping the perfectly just claim that clubs possessing proportv for purely outside sport should bi> exempt from rates." To convey somo idea of the burden imposed on clubs owning land in tlio city, lie read the following statement, showing tho amount paid last year by individual clubs:—\\ellinglon Bowling Club, .£Ol IDs. j Tliorndon Bowling Club, IBs. JOd.s Newtown Bowling Club, JC33 10s. 10d.; Victoria bowling Club', .€l9 10s. 4d.; Ifelburne Bowling Club, .£29 13s. Bd.; Hataitai Bowling Club, ,£2 ss. Bd.; Broughom Hill Tennis Club, ,£l2 Ss. 10d.; Tliorndon Tennis Club, '.£l9 fts. 2d.; AVellington Tennis Club, .£lO 17s. 6d.; Newlown Tennis (lub (ill Town Belt), .£1 os. 2d.; Kelburne Tennis Club, M 19a fid.; Wellington Rugby Union, £201 13s. 10d.; total, -£4Si lfis. 4d. The new Lvall Hay Ixiwling and tennis ground, and the new football ground at Kilbirnie, were not rated last year, l ear by year the rates were steadily crowing. This was intone?*! by Mr, Gamble, dologate from Tliorndon, who stated that in 1903 their rales were .£23, whilst this year thev paid over .£SO. Mr. Skerrett went on'to sav that there were only two courses open, either tho corporation would rnquiro to relieve the pressnro on tlio clubs affected, by the remission of rates, cr they should be squeezed out. In. tlio near future, owing to the heavy rates, the use of grounds held by clubs would be restricted to a very limited class. .1 he Board of Control of the Sports Proteclion League, and also tho Wellington brunch, were in accord, and llicy maintained that Ihuse affected were justly ontitled to ask for remission. The Ratine Act Amendment, 1910, Clause 27, was nerfcctly dear, nnd gave the corpnralion power to art in the direction indicated. It was resolved that a deputation representing the various sports bodies should wait on the Cilv Council at lis next meeting to urge the remission of rates on grounds held by any body of persons exclusively for tho purpose of outdoor spurt, and not for profit. Tho sneakers will'be Messrs. C. P. Skerrett, K.C.. W. Perry, and .T. .T. Roberts. A further meeting of delegates is to bo held at an early date to make tho final arrangements.