SPORT AND RATES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1847, 5 September 1913, Page 8

SPORT AND RATES.

CITY COUNCIL'S AITITUDE. PfTDSPEGTS OF REMISSION. The subject of rates on, sports grounds ■is still a problem for the Wellington City Council. Tho Financo Committeo reported to the council last night that they had taken into consideration tho request mado by tho deputation which waited on tho council a fortnight ago, asking to havo tho rates on sports grounds and bowling and tennis greens remitted, and that the committee had to recommcnd the council to inform the deputation that they could not consent to a remission of the rates as asked for. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who is chairman of the Finance Committee, supplemented tho report with some observations on tho subject. Ho said that tho council was spending about £10,000 per year on sports grounds, and had spent £50,000 to £60,000 in the last ten years in providing grounds. Were they justified, as trustees of tho people, in remitting rates to sports bodies when many working men on whom it was a strain were required to pay the rates on their cottages? The only honest way out of the difficulty was to assist sports bodies to get grounds on tho Town Belt. Councillor G. Frost said that' he opposed the clauso becauso it had not received tho consideration due to it. He would like to see it referred back, and he moved in that direction. Councillor R. Fletcher seconded Councillor Frost's motion. He thought the deputation to the last meeting made a very strong case —for fair consideration at all events. Councillor M. F. Luckie said that the Rugby Union took off tho shoulders of the corporation the necessity of providplaying grounds for all the Rugby | players of the city. i Councillor J. Fuller supported the motion, likewise Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald and Councillor W, H. P. Barber. _ Postponement was advocated by Councillor A. H. Hindmarsh, so that further information might be obtained. The Mayor , favoured referring the question back for the reason that ho did not wish to stifle criticism of auy report which he brought forward. Ho remarked, - however, that tho year had been commenced with a slight deficit. Tho report was referred back to the committee.