THE PURCHASE OF ATHLETIC PARK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1867, 29 September 1913, Page 5

THE PURCHASE OF ATHLETIC PARK.

Sir—His Worship the Mayor, in reply to my comments ro the purchase of Athletic Park, reported in this morning's Dominion, is not to the point. Reflection was not called for —facts only are required. Tho Mayor's statement provides evidence against himself. The statement which I took exception to was: "That the Reserves Committee of tho City Council had made all arrangements to purchase the Park, when the Rugby Union went in behind the committee, and secured the ground." Now, His AVorship this morning admits that the representatives of tl',e union waited an the Reserves Committee in connection with tho purchaso of the ground.This statement is not consistent with tho statement that the Rugby Union committee "went behind." The representatives of tho union waited on tho Reserves Committee to find out if that committee wore likely to recommend tho purchase to tho council. They came away satisfied that the council did not want the Park. Surely, as Mayor, Mr. Luke will accept the assurnnco of Councillor Fletcher, who was a member of the committee at the time, that 110 such agreement as tho purchase of the Park was arrived at by tho council. My letter states that: "During tho negotiations between the Park Company and the AVellington Rugby Union, the council _ mado no direct offer to -purchase." This statement has not been questioned by tho Mayor. It is well known that the council had an opportunity to purchase the Park, and turned it down. His Worship's statement, publicly made through .your columns, makes it appear that the union, deliberately, by unfair means, wrested the purchase of tho Park from the City Council. The statement still remains unproven.—l im, etc., JOHN BURNS. September 25.