COST OF SPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 15 November 1939, Page 3

COST OF SPORT

GISBORNE FACILITIES

OBLIGATIONS MET

COUNCILLOR'S QUERY “They are on a good wicket here,' remarked Cr. E. Harris at last nights meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council, after hearing the charges made by some local bodies on sports organisations for the use of public reserves. Cr. Harris said he had been assured by a certain sports body in Gisborne that municipal councils elsewhere made grounds available free, and lie sought some information oil the matter. lie was also told that some of the bodies using council reserves had not honoured their obligations. The town clerk. Mr. W. M. Jenkins, stated that the hockey and soccer people were the only other bodies that used the Childers Road Reserve, apart from the Amateur Athletic Club, which had just sent in a cheque for their amount, and both the hockey and soccer associations had honoured their obligations. On the Victoria Domain, the professional athletic body had also paid ils fees.

Speaking on the matter of free use ■of grounds, the Mayor, Mr. D. W. /Coleman, M.P., said that the amateur athletes would be able to use the Makarakn Domain free of charge for their night gatherings or practice runs, raid there may be some other boroughs which made similar arrangements in regard to grounds similarly situated.

Default of Years Ago Cr. 11. E. Maude remarked that a few years ago the Napier Borough Council charged the Cricket Association there L 125 a year for the use of grounds. One body in Gisborne many years ago defaulted in their fees, and just before the election had tiie fees remitted.

The town clerk read a list of fees charged sports bodies in a number of boroughs about the same size as Gisborne, Cr. Harris then making the remark he quoted. The Mayor said that what the Gisborne Borough Council received in fees from sports bodies did not recompense it for the cost of maintenance. The cost of maintenance on the Childers Road Reserve was nearly £IOO.