A GOLF CLUB'S RATES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2734, 31 March 1916, Page 6

A GOLF CLUB'S RATES

MUNICIPAL RATING

BIG DEPUTATIONS AT MIRAMAIt

THE HEALTH ASPECT

Two large deputations of golfers and mombers of the Sports Protection League filled tho Miramar Borough Chambers last evening, and asked tno trough Council for a remission of all or somo of the rates paid by tho Golf Club on tho Miramar golf grounds. Mr. J. P. Firth spoke on behalf of the Golf Club. "We are," ho said, "a sports body having bought Mine IU3 acres ot land. As a sports body, holding this property entirely for sport, and Having no intention, now or in tho tuturc, _of making any profit from it, wc consider wo are rated too high. Jn nearly all tho towns of New Zealand very considerable) reductions in sports bouios rates (id comparison with tho rates levied on other property) aro ma<io. Wo don't come to ask you to give us any unfair consideration. Wo do not come as beggars. We wish to put our case before you as a principle. Ho took it that the council of a young) borough held itself in a great measuro responsible for tho future of that borough. Air knew the diro results of lack of foresight of people early hi authority. In tho distant future it would be a great advantage to Miramar to have an open space in what would be one day a very thickly-popu-lated area, and if tho Golf Club did that work, while making no profit from it. they were entitled to consideration, ino club's success would moan a great addition to tho general progress of Miramar, because the presence of a Kolf club invariably added to tho value of other properties. Backing a Prinolplo. <i M o C ' ske "ett, K.C., said that the bports Protection League wore presont to support on principle the application mado by the Golf Club. The « 7 of , tho m e m °ers of tho league's Board of Control were present, except the president, who was a resident of Christchurch, and they had come to show by their presence their sincere belief tbat the local authority should encourage the croation and maintenance of sports grounds in a borough, not for purposes of gain, but for purposes of hoalthy sport. He would like to remind the borough council that the Legislature had' given it the power to remit, either in part or in whole, the rates of sports bodies. No doubt this power was given for the encouragement of healthy recreation. The Legislature had given local authorities power to establish gardens and sports grounds for the health of the community. If that work was being done for the local authority surely it demanded on the council's part some recognition and some assistance. The fact that the Miramar Golf Club was a private club was no answer to this application. Here there was a comparatively vast area of 103 acres in the middle of a borough which was uot yet as populous as it would be. In time.to come Miramar would be a populous district, and what a fine thing it would be then to have this splendid ground for the people's use. It would be little Bhort of a disaster if these grounds were cut up and left open to the speculative builder. The collection of rates was not tho end-all of municipal enterprise: very far from it. He pointed out that the Golf Club was restricted from selling the ground, for ten years. The times just now were a severe test to any club of this kind. About sixty of tho club's members were away at the front; they were contributing nothing; but the club was showing its spirit by keeping them on its books. Tho rate's the club paid amounted to about £345 per year, which was a very large impost on a club which had 103 acres or practically vacant land, and had no, intention of utilising it in the tuture by cutting up or selling. Ho knew that Miramar was a heavily-rated borough; he believed the council had rated up to its maximum. Nevertheless, the claims of the Golf Club should be recognised to the fullest extent: that would encourage them to go on rr c? open this valuable area. Mr. Skerrett. mentioned that in Auckland half tho total rate on sports grounas was remitted. Wellington City Council remitted, about two-thirds oi the total rate. Instances of reductions made in Wellington were:— l Wellington Eugby Union. • ■ £ Rateß payable 207 Remitted ' 135 Thorndon Bowling Club." Rates payable gj. Remitted ;.,.,[, 33 '_ Wellington Bowling' Club. Rates payable 53 Remitted . 39 U vT£. e , total remissions made by the Wouington City Council on sports grounds was £303. The Christchurch City Council remitted tliewholo of tho rates on Lancaster Park. Invercargui .remitted all the rates (£6O) on tho Rugby ground, and did not collect rates on the Showground and bowling Clubs. Pahnerston ■■ North remitted ±■178 ou the Agricultural Sports Grpund. . ■. Tha Mayor's Reply. The Mayor of Miramar (Mr. F Townsenu) said that the Miramar Council was at all times willing to assist sports bodies, but there were many things that had to bo taken into consideration by the councillors. It would be for tho council to go very carefully into the request of the Golf Club, but at t&e same time they would have to consider the borough. II might' not ba news to the deputations to hear that the corporation was not in tho healthiest financial condition. The counc" had had to rate right up to rhe limit, and if they remitted rates other parts of the borough would suiter considerably. AVork' had to bo done, money was needed for the work, and the money must como from rating. They would not have struck the limit rate if they could have avoidi ** ey coll 'd uave got along otherwise. The rates on the golf ground were exactly tho same as they wcro before the club took the property ovor, and the club went into tho matter with' its eyes open. Mr. Skorrett: J3ut the valuation has been put up far above the purchase money—put up Ul4lO. The Mayor: You have asked us to perform a very hard task. . . . You are well aware we have several loans in the borough, and I.don't think any council would be right in remitting rates on loans. The only way wo could remit would be on the general rate. However, tho council will go very carefully into the matter, and if anything can be done you will hear from us in a week or so.

Mr. Skcrrett: We maintain that the presence of this ground puts up the value of the other property. The. .Mayor: Do yen people realise the position this borough is in? Our trouble is that wo have too much land.