CITY RESERVES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3024, 10 March 1917, Page 11

CITY RESERVES

* MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS ARE THEY NEGLECTED? i Since the litigation over the quostion of Sunday play on, the municipal golf links, it is alleged that the' links Shave beau nogloeted. ' On this subject Mr. W. Whitehead wrote to the City Engineer on November 22 last as foilows:—"I wish to draw your attention i io tho present condition of tho munici- ' .pal .golf links. Tho grass is so long and tho turf so eut abo»s by horses galloping over it that it is scarcely worth playing ovor. A number havo alreadysaid that if tho present condition is not amended they. certainly will navo to seek pastures now. On. Saturday last I saw a man on fioreehack galloping about, and I am told' it •3s quit* a common. thing. Surely it should not be allowed. I am informed ' that it is possible to got sheep on tho links. Why is that not done? Tho weeds in the putting greens aro a terriblo nuisance; tho poisoning that was attempted doos no tseem ftt havo <lono any good.- I am suro that tho daisy sand, which I Tecommended and tried would permanently romovo all weeds after throe or four annualdressings. There are a nutnbor of boggy places through tho green; and two greens that requiro draining. I think that you will agrcs that tho prico wo are paying for our golf on tfibso links warranty us in asking that thoy shall bo kopt in reasonable order." Prior to that Mr. .Whitehead had offered to rent the links from tho coun-<-il, which offer the council could not entertain. Interesting Comparisons. Later the nuesfcion of tho cost of tho links was raised, to which str. Whitehead replied by going into the cost of all tho reserves. His deductions /he wrote to tho Town Clerk on November 29 last as follows:— "I am obliged for your letter. of tho 22nd instant, giving particulars of the receipts from Basin Reserve, Wakefield Park, and the golf links. I would point out that of all threo tho golf links (without taking grazing into account) aro tho least costly ot tho city. Taking only current wages into account, and excluding other expenses and interest on capital outlay, which, latter would all bo in favour of the links, the comparison would bo somewhat as follows:— Basin Reserve. Wages, 4 men at £3 per -week ... £621 Less receipts as per your letter 169 Loss per annum £435 Wakefield Park. _• Wages, 4 men at £3 per week ... £624 Loss receipts as per your letter 19 Loss per annum £605 Golf Course. Wages, 2 men at £3 por week ... £312 Less receipts (golf fees) as per your letter '. 134 Loss per annum £178 "It would appear, judging by the receipts, that for actual purposes of exercise and recreation the golf course is patronised far in excess of either of the other two places. I should like to know the reason why the two places which aro less used should be kept ur> in such good order whilst the golf course is practically neglected, and is, at the present moment;, hardly fit to play on. People from other centres nave noticed this, which has hardly redounded to the credit of tho City Council. "With judicious management and the

grazing of the land by sheep, the place could bo got in order at no additional cost.

"I havo complained about the iuoso the horses grazing on tho links liavo made, and tho terrible way they havo cut up tho turf, and was told that tho council insisted on getting every ponny of rovcuuo possible, and if tlio links oould not bo nmdo to pay they would probably close thcin down. "Tho rental obtained, from tho grazing by horses and cattle, was £96 2s. for tho year; £50 could' no doubt bo got for sheep-grazing which would not only keep tho links in better order, but could bo mado to reduce tho wages bill by about £78 & year. "As such a .point has bcon mado about tho links paying, I havo offered to leaso them from tho council, and to still give tho general public tho same rights tliey havo at present, but to' my offer havo received no reply. It would seem to bo a, 'dog in the manger' policy." ■ Condition of Links. To this the Town Clerk replied:—"l am directed by the council to inform you. in reply to your letters of tho 22nd and 29th ultimo, addressed to tho City Engineer and myself respectively, on tho subject of tho condition op the municipal golf course, and making a comparison between tho receipts from such links with tho Basin Rosorvo and Wakefiold Park, that from tho reports reeoived from the City Engineer, who is responsible for tho upkeep of tho golf they are satisfied that the best is being done under the circumstances; that they havo cvory confidence in tho corporation etaff engaged, and tho municipally controlled grounds compare very favourably wfEG other links, and finally that thoy cannot seo any reason for tho manner in which your complaint to the City Engineer is oxprossed." Why Not Consult Others? Finally Mr. 'Whitehead wroto to tho Town Clerk:— "I duly received your letter of Yho 22nd ultimo, contents of which I note. I cannot see any Teasap for your objection to my loiter to Mr. Morton, as it simply sots out the facts as to the condition of the links. I have had about fifteen years' experience in tho construction and management of golf links, and havo played ovor hundreds :of courses, consequently I claim to ! know a little more- about that subject I than tho corporation stnff. ~K% to the links comparing favourably with others, I would suggest that you get the opinions of somo of onr loading amateur golfers, say, Mr. A. D. f>. Duncan, Mr. A. P. Biss, Mr. G. 0. Sutton, Mr. R. C. Kirk, and others who Have plavcd some time and play a good game."-