GROUNDS FOR NOTHING

Evening Star, Issue 23691, 26 September 1940, Page 5

GROUNDS FOR NOTHING

DRASTIC PROPOSAL BY CRICKETERS DISCUSSION AT O.C.A. MEETING A rather revolutionary view of the question of the recreation grounds in Dunedin was put forward and supported by certain speakers at the annual meeting of the Otago Cricket Association last night. Mr 0. G. Stevens, who set the ball rolling, warned the meeting at the outset that what ho was about to advocate was unusual and would be “ something of a bombshell to tlio people of Dunedin,” and the sentiments he subsequently expressed were certainly such as would (as one interjector remarked) threaten the, stability of the Town Hall. Mr J. A. Hobson’s contentions were equally drastic, but there were other speakers who held diflcreiit views. The matter was finally disposed of when the chairman (Mr F. N. B'iiney) promised that it would receive duo consideration by the incoming committee. . , ~ Mr Stevens, introducing the mattei, moved: That it be a recommendation to the committee that all payments tor ground rents be waived for the ensuing year. Payments for playing grounds in New' Zealand, he said, had never Men challenged, and year after year uniortunate club secretaries had the job ol endeavouring to keep the finances straight; “ scrounging ” around among the club’s supporters for monetary support. And when funds were secured and paid to the association, most ot them went into the pockets of the Dunedin City Corporation. A sum of £l4'! was paid for ground rents last yoai, and if this sum was placed at yearly interest in the endowment fund it would bring that fund to £1,500 in 10 years time. The carrying on of such games as cricket was the duty of the city fathers; a duty which would result in far more benefit to the community than the spending of thousands of pounds on the planting of flowers round the city. The speaker considered that the other sports bodies should be approached with a view' to securing their co-operation in making representations to the City Corporation regarding the free provision of playing areas. Mr Robson said that for many years he had resented the assertion so frequently made that the cricketers in the north paid more for their ground privileges than did the cricketers in Dunedin. The speaker regarded this rather as a shameful fact, and it was the dutv of every Government and local body to foster the spirit which w r as being slioivn by our young men today, when they were responding to the call to save ns from unspeakable things. This spirit was engendered by sport, and sport should be encouraged by the provision of all necessarv grounds. Any further attempt to exploit sports bodies by increasing rents; said Mr Robson, should be strongly resented. At present the predominant feature of the Reserves Committee’s outlook on tlie matter was finance. Mr D. A. Solomon said that the discussion so far had been typical of the times. The youth of to-day wanted the Government to do everything, yet they were better off financially than they had ever been, and better able to do something for themselves. It was ridiculous nonsense to talk about the young men not being able to pay anything towardsground rental or endowment funds. Mr A. G. Valentine supported Mr Solomon’s views. People, lie said, did not appreciate things -which they got for-nothing. Those who refused to pay their share of necessary expenses were "o good to cricket or to the clubs. True! it might be advisable for this year’s rents to be reduced, as clubs would be labouring under the handicap of decreased membership. Mr TV. A. Rowland pointed out that if the city bore the expense of providing the grounds for cricket it would mean only a very slight addition to the rates.

The Chairman - t am sure the incoming committee will give the matter full consideration.