CITY SPORTS GROUNDS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 190, 10 May 1944, Page 6

CITY SPORTS GROUNDS

Request For Release From Services’ Use DEPUTATION TO MINISTER A deputation, representing the Wellington City Council and sports bodies waited on the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, yesterday morning with a request that ' the authorities giVe consideration to releasing certain of Wellington’!) sports grounds which have for the past four years been occupied by the armed services. The deputation was introduced. by the mayor. Mr. Hislop, who emphasized the need for the return of the occupied sports grounds as early as possible. Cr. R. D. Macalister, chairman of the reserves committee, reminded the Minister • that, before’ the Centennial Exhibition, Wellington had a total of 68 playing fields, the largest by far being the exhibition site which was to be resumed as soon as the exhibition closed. At present the position was that the Army occupied and had control of Hataitai Park, the exhibition grounds, the motor camp at Miramar North, and also the sports grounds belonging to the Winter Show Association. When overseas servicemen arrived, Anderson Park, Kaiwarra Park and Central Park were made available to them at the urgent request of the Public, Works Department, but a distinct promise was made that as soon as they ceased to use these areas they would be returned.' “The city has carried out its part of the bargain,” said Cr. Macalister, “and it remains for us to ask you to see that the Government’s promise is performed and that these three parks be handed back to the city. Some thousands of pounds will have to be spent on each of them in making good the damage done, and it xyillbe 12 months at least before any of them can be brought into use again. Out of a total of 68 playing fields we are at present dispossessed of 25. I and the director of parks have just had the dimcult task of allocating the grounds for winter sports, and have been at our wits end to meet the demands of the players. The council feels that it is , high time something was done about it. . The' Minister, who was sympathetic, gave a general review of how the needs of an acute position had. to be met when it came to the establishment of large camps for men of the armed forces. As to the release of the grounds, he had no record of the promise referred -to. He did not know what the future of.the ex- ' hibition ground at. might be auv more than did members of the depute fion. It was now part of the aerodrome which served Wellington, and when they would be in a position to hand it back was hard to say. After mentioning, that it would be passible to hand Hataitai and Central Parks back to the city, which would, be some little help from the sports point of view, he said the matter of accommodation had created problems , which probably had a bearing on the Winter Show buildings and grounds and the Miramar ground. Brigadier H. E. Avery expressed appreciation for the splendid co-operation of the city council right through. He recalled the position which had been created by the arrival here of overseas forces and said that though they had now moved elsewhere they had given instructions, in some instances, about keeping their camps intact against possible reoccupation at , some future date. The ground at Miramar was a W.A.A.C.’s camp and was still required for the accommodation of girls, mostly from places outside Wellington, due to the shortage of hostel accommodation in the city. In view of the instructions received the resumption of Anderson Park and Kaiwarra. Park would have to be ruled out. ,