MUNICIPAL GOLF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1977, 6 February 1914, Page 8

MUNICIPAL GOLF.

PROPOSED PUBLIC COURSE DEPUTATION TO CITY.COUNCIL. Tho proposals formulated at a meeting held some days ago to have a public golf course laid out oil the hills an tho Tc-wii Belt, below Vo.geltown, were laid before tho City Council last night by a deputation o£ those interested in tho scheme. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsli introduced the deputation, which ho said was composed of people who Wished to Jissist the couii,r, ma ' ! ° a municipal golf course. ■They did not ask for -what had been given to certain howling clubs —practically a freehold of parts of the Town Belt. Dr. Cameron outlined thfc proposals or the eommittco having tho scheme in hand. Ho had no hesitation, he said, in saying that the revenue for the first Sta r would exefted £100, and as tbo oourso could be made for from £.200 to £SQQ., the expenditure would be a prohiablo one for tho council. Ho urged, also, thai the gamo of golf was ono of tho hesl for health and' recreation for pdoplo of all agos, including children. Edinburgh, reputed to bp a conservative MtJ'i f had now 311110 public golf courses. Iho laying out of the coarse and the playing of golf on it would not make the Town. Belt dangerous for people to walk about over it, and golf within easy distance would be an attraction to visitors corning to the city. . He did not think tho council Would have any difficulty in .making', arrangements with the lessees of tho Town' Belt to allow golf to be played over their holdings. Mr, A. V.'hitchiw said he represented especially tho Berhampore Electors" Association, who were very much interested in the project. They wanted' to ■See the hills above Berhampore improved, for they were now an actual eyeso.ro. Also, jt was a fact that. some of the lessees tries! to prevent citizens from exercising their legal right to go 011 tho Town Beit for k- ) creation. Rightly or wrongly, ho con- ' sidsred golf a recreation. The ground 5 there was suitable for a golf course, and on it there wa.s a building known as tho Fever Hospital, which could ho! used as a golf Perhaps the counoil would be willing to hand over' the land to the Golf. Committee or Association, and allow tho committee to sub-lcusi) it. What tho roTinti itt-co isked, however, was that the council should mako arrangements with the present lessees, Also., tho association would ho ■willing to plant trees on the Cronnd under the direction of the city ! authorities. In repiy to Mr. Tregear, Dr. Cameron Said the wholo control of the ground would 'Still be retained by the souncil. Tho Mayor said he could assure the J deputation that tho council would view! their application in a very broad spirit. The council muslrnot confine their vision only to those, sports that had been' played 011 tho city reserves for a number of .years:, They realised that a/: the city grew these other sports must be provided for. If tlie council decided to establish a municipal golf course, such conditions would be hid down as would not inxpfir.il the rights of other .individuals not interested i;n golf. . The ' only thing about which lie was 'oxer- : cised was as to whether tl:e playing of golf would bo a danger to pedestrians going 'over tho ground. Mr. Flctelior: No more than cricket.; The Mayor asked Dr. Cameron, who was conversing with a . councillor, to Kfvo his attention, presumably with a view of his answering the question. Councillor ..Hindmarßh,: ,1 object to yOlir addressing, the. deputation. Ko otbor Mayer has over dono it. Tho Mayor: I'm stating my opinion, and I intend to. . Councillor Hiiidtnarsli: Very well'. I object. and I will go out while you are speaking, as a protest. (And ho went., olit-,) Tho Mayor assured the 'deputation, that tho 'matter would havo serious consideration by tho council sad by the Reserves Committee. Dr. Cameron produced photogranhs of tho Brnnsfield links, in Edinburgh, to. show that golf Was not dangerous to the public.