FOR SPORTS BODIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1989, 20 February 1914, Page 5

FOR SPORTS BODIES.

REMISSION OF RATES.

APPEAL TO CITY COUNCIL.

The remission of rates upon city sports grounds held by clubs was advocated by a numerously attended deputation representing the Sports Protection League, the Rugby Union, and a number of clubs which l was introduced to the City Council last evening by Councillor M. Luckie. Mr. C. P. Skerrett (president of the Spdrts Protection League) was the •principal spokesman. He said that the application was be'big lodged at a more opportune time than formerly, Tlie deputation submitted that it was as sound a.policy a-s it was just that the council should regard the- various sports clubs as helping in tlio work of providing open spaces. The system of rating on unimproved vahies boro hardly upon the clubs, and unless they were afforded some rel'ef areas that were now beauty spots would pass to the speculative? builder. The clubs whose interests he was urging had spent sofflo. £13,000, apart from the cost of acquiring the lands and of buildings, in making provision for 1 recreation. The members of the sports clubs, in their private capa ; - city, contributed to th.e_ra.tcs which were drawn upon for tlie maintenance 0 f public grounds in which they had very little interest. The bodies concerned were five bowling clubs, the Rugby Union, and tho Lyall ?ay Tennis and Bowling Club. A typical case was that of the Thorndon Bowjing Club, which in? 19Q3 Tw'd £23 in rates and in 1913 paid £51. The anmml subscription of the club had been increased from £2 2s.- a year to £3, with the result that increased membership did not substantially: add to the annual income. The club had reclaimed two acres of ground previously occupied by the kerosene tin and jam tin. The area was now a- beauty spot, but tho club found itself miablo to hold it, and unless somo rating relief was granted the corner or Wer ground would bo placed ill the market. The- bowling clubs had spent £4605 upon tho improvement of grounds. It -had heen said that they: were rich clubs, but all of them had -an overdraft except the Victoria Club, which had a credit balance of £66. This sum would be more than absorbed in effecting necessary improvements. A member of the deputation sgid that the club had.an overdraft now. Mr. Skerretfj continued that the Kelburne Club was going back annually by just about the amount contributed'to the-city rates. Tlie tennis grounds were situated in the most congested area of the city, and had. to meet heavy charges fdr rates. The amount received in rates from the tennis clubs of the city was just about £100. In the Old Country it was' recognised that it was the duty of the municipality to provide for the reasonable recreation of the people. To say- "go further afield" was nonsense. Grounds for recreation must be. provided ivithin easy reacb of : those who worked in the city. Invercargill, Mr. Skerrett stated, did not rate any ground which was used solely for purposes of sport, and rates had. boon similarly rem'Rted _jn P.ilmorston North. As president of tho Wellington branch of the Sports Protection League, he did not represent any one club. They stood for a urcat principle., The, sports clubs, witli no thoiiffiit of -.gain," were assisting tho council "to pro/ude,'. lunj>s Vjtnll beautyspots for tho. people, and-it was reasonable that they should' Tie exempted from rates; Mr. W. Perry, representing the W'ellington.Rueby Union, r.aid that it contributed of''the:.' t ,'paid by tlio'spo'tts 'bodies"in dates'' It'was true that tho union made ft charge t'eir admission to Athletic park, but sums so derived were expended in paying tho rentals of other grounds iu all parts of the city. •'Moreover,. the Athletic Park was thrown open to school children during tho whole of the cricket reason, and on two davjs. a week during tho football season. Matches .at Athletic . Pfttk". brought a considerable amount of tramway revenue to the City Council. ,Tho Mayor said that : when the rflnuest of the deputation was last made ,it.was niado at an inopportune time. The council would look at the matter in a broad way. and deal with it in a spirit of' citizenship. '.' .Subsequently the question was referred to the Finance Committee, which is t6 report to nest meeting of the council.