A MOTOR CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1937, Page 10

A MOTOR CAMP

CITY COUNCIL'S JOB

MOTORIST'S CONTENTION

NO FINANCIAL AID

The City Council's proposal to proride a motor camp in Hussell Terrace in readiness for the Centennial Exhibition in 1940 was discussed at .some length at the meeting of the Automobile Association, Wellington, last night. Mr. E. Palliser reported that the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKenzie) had suggested to him that the association might make a small contribution, say, £250, to the total cost of some £4000. The association had already done many things for the council and other bodies, said Mr. Palliser, but he had an open mind on the proposal. Looking back at the last big exhibition in New Zealand, between 1925 and 1926, he reminded them that there was no official camp, but the Otago Association had to go to the expense of establishing one at Tahuna Park. He did not know whether that association made any money out of it, but from the official figures the association, having put in water, gas, portable boilers, wool and coal, scrim for shelters, and a canteen, charged an initial fee of 10s for the driver of each car per week, 5s for each additional adult using the camp, and 2s 6d for each child. The chairman (Mr. E. A. Batt): That's like the rent of the Government houses. Mr. Palliser further mentioned that the Dunedin camp was open only to members of automobile clubs, 256 parties of whom, including overseas visitors, totalled 1056 persons. Mr. Batt: Motoring has grown hugely since that time. Mr. Palliser: We want the camp. The club, unfortunately, spent money previously on a camp which was a bad venture. It was abandoned. Mr. Batt: It was a bog; that's why it •was abandoned. ' Mr. Palliser: The thing was not properly investigated before action ■was taken. CHAIRMAN'S OPPOSITION. "I am against the suggestion that the association should contribute," said Mr. Batt. "You know that for a number of years we have been trying to get a camp in Wellington, and Mr. Palliser has referred to the way in which we have been let down. Some of you win remember bsing taken by a Mayor to Lyall Bay,, and being shown a hole in the ground which would hold 20 cars at the outside.'With that they wanted us to spend some £400 for an unsuitable corrugated iron building. Then we were to have a place at Moa Point, but the aerodrome took it. Next there was Central Park, suggested by the City Council itself, but some pressure' was brought to bear and that proposal, too, went by the board. Now, the council has the Town Belt for nothing, and will have help, I understand, from the unemployment funds in the construction of a motor camp to cost £4000, but it is suggested that we should give a small contribution. Why should the City Cduncil be bribed to go into a concern from which it will get revenue? We should not give anything to the City Council which would establish t a precedent. We would certainly get requests for contributions from other local bodies. Seeing that one person out of every seven owns a motor-car, I think a camp is a public utility to which public authorities should subscribe. Why should a motor association put money into it when the council is going to get all the proceeds from it?". He quoted the success which had attended the Hutt Park camp, which was a payable proposition. EFFORTS DISCOURAGED. "If we are called upon to provide for a thing like this," said Mr. Batt, "why should not swimming associations subscribe for baths, and the same with other sports bodies? Such facilities are recognised today as public facilities, provided by the local bodies. Our efforts to get a camp have been discouraged for years by the City Council. The time is long past when the council should have provided a suitable camping ground. I do not believe in the spirit of giving contributions to secure the sympathy of local bodies." ,«*." Mr. A. J. Curtis considered'tne prin-^ ciple wrong, as if the council provided a park it would have to have somebody to control it. What share would the association have in its control? "The thing should be let alone.' said Mr. A. W. Warburton. Mr. E. P. Hay did not see why the association should help the council out of its difficulties. It would have to put in a suitable park in any case, on account of the Exhibition. Mr Palliser pointed out that an members of automobile associations received concessions at motor camps ■where any association had made substantial improvements. Mr. Batt thought the council broadminded enough to go ahead in any case. Perhaps the official of the council had made the. suggestion on his own initiative. . Mr Palliser: We must not just no nothing. We must push behind the council and get the camp established It was decided to urge the City Council to proceed with the establishment of a motor camp, the association being willing, when it was established, to give it full publicity through its own channels with other associations.