New Sports Area

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 57, 23 March 1937, Page 6

New Sports Area

INTRICATE PROBLEM . FOR HASTINGS

Mr Maddison's Survey of Proposals RUGBY FOOTBALL NEEDS "The matter of accommodation for Rugby aad other sports in Hastings has been under the consideratioii of the Borough Council lor some time now, but It is a very big education Indeed and there are many very important aspects that have to be taken into account and which require the fullest investigation," said the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Maddison, at the meeting of delegates to the Hastings Rugby Football Sub-Union last evening when he was asked if he could give some indication as to the future tenura of Nelson Park and so relieve anxiety on that score. Mr. Maddison gave an outline of the jaany diificulties that eonfronted the cpnncil in its deliberations and dealt With the possifyilities, advantages and disadvantages of the various sites that had been suggested as suitable for a sports gronnd in Hastings. Mr. Maddison said tbat it had been Suggested that the council should purchase and construct an up-to-date gronnd that would accommodate not only Rugby but basketball, tennis, athletics and other sports. The controllirtg bodies of these sports had mado representations on a. nuuiber of occasions for more and better accommodation than was at present available to them. . "It is a very big matter indeed," Iie said. "It is qlso a big matter from ithe financial aspect alone and will need to be given very caTeful and extensive consideration, for, while the ground would be nsed by a certain number of people, after all it is a matter for the ratepayers as a whole. I did not anticipate making any statement of this kind and have not the full details at my disposal, but I can say that roughly the amount involved in such a proposal is about £10,000." "The raising of such a sum would have to receive the approval of the Local Government Loans Board unless the council could find the money some way out of ordinary revenue, and there is iittle, in fact no chance, of that," He said. "Then if the Loans Board did approve of the proposition it would be subject to a Ioan poll so that the matter could he settled by eveyybody who contributes by way of r-ates." Mr Maddison said that the whole question was a very complicated one and that the council was seekingj out the fullest information concerning the various aspects and was endeavouring to formulate some proposals that would provide the sporting bodies of Hastings with the facilities they required. He then proceeded to deal with the various playmg-areas that the council already possessed and other of !the other areas that it had been suggested would be ideal sites for a sports-grouud. "So far as Nelson Park is eoncerned, it is not at all suitable, even for ordinary elub Rugby," he said. He explained that it was peculiarly set out and con7urged towards the southatn end. Though two playing groua is were provided, both were 12 yards too narxow, ano this was a serious matter, for it hindered play and was deterrent to gpectacular football. Purchase of Nelson Parfc. The park, he said, was purchased in 1919 from the late Mr W. Nelson, and it was stipulated that . upon the last purchase payment in 1940 the area must be brought under the Domains Act, which called for it to he thrown opea to the public exeept on a certain limited number of special occasions during each year. Later amendments to the Act allowed local bodies to lease grounds under certain conditions, but the council had made representations for the extension of the time of purchase. "But really Nelson Park is not a very satisfactory place for football." He said. Mr Maddison went on to eay that personally he thought that what should be considered very carefully in the matter of providing a sports-ground was the question of providing facilities suitable for the playing of all sports and which at the same time would keep up with the demands of sport for this district. 1 "It is not perhaps fully realised that the population of this district, within a radius of 15 miles of Hastings, is next to Dunedin," he said, "so that it is desirable that we should have a sports grounds eommensurate with the needs of that highly-populated area. It is not only the capital cost that has to be considered, but also the upkeep of a sports-ground, and the upkeep would run into many hundreds of pounds a year." "So Many Proposals." Reverting to Nelson Park, Mr Maddison said that he believed the trust-ceg were not now averse to the suggested change of the conditions ot the purchase, and it might be possible lor legislaiion to be framed to give Rugby some security of tenure of the area if desired. Another proposal was that a certain portion of the area should be soid and the remainder left as a tix eathing-space for the commuuity. The proceeds then could he set aside for the development of another atea. "There are so many suggestions about sites that there is need for a thorough investigation," he continued. "For example, ther© is the showgrounds— a beantiful and spacious ground with an oval that might readily be made to accommodate from 15,000 jfco 20,000 people. I have not discussed the matter with the A. and P. Society,, .for th® »it» is only one ©f those sug-

gested, but it might be possible to make representations in that direction. It is just one avenue, anyway. "There is also the question of Windsor Park," he added. "On the eastern side there is an ideal eite and an area adequate for the sports needs of the district, but after all there is the golf club there to be considered, for they are the pioneers of the park a© a playing-area and have done invaluable work in deveioping the park. They have, I understand, a membership of 200 piayers now, and golf has a great foilowing. Civic authorities must take into consideration the requirements and needs of all sports, and not jusfc one or two in particular.

Willowpark Road Area. "Another possible avenue is the six acres owned by the borough in Willowparl. road, near the High School, ' he ccrtinued. "This has been used dui'ing the rast few years as a commaiivy ga' den, and the opportunity has been taken in its cultivation to have the area levelled off. I am satisfied that, sown in grass, it would he one of the best lawns in the town. The area might not be adequate for the needs, but it is feasible to purchase adjoining areas. "There is also in the minds of certain people the idea of purchasing a piece of land beyond the High School," he added. "This is ideally situated, but there is the question of cost. Its purchase would necessitate seeking the approval of the Loans Board, and whether the board would be prepared to agree to the council' s paying the price that is asked for that area is one that would have to be taken into consideration, for there are involved other costs, such as roading, footpaths, sewer and water services and other amenities. "There are still further the possibilities of availing ourselves of the beautiful and centrally-situated racecourse, with its handsomely-built grandstands," said Mr Maddison. "It might be possible for- some arrangements to be made with the jockey Club for the setting out of a 'star' ground in front of the grandstands for the playing of big representative matches. This might be accomplished by the construction of collapsible or movable fences. It is only a suggestion, mind you. "From what I have just mentioned you will see that it is no easy matter that has to be considered, and the council has all these and other matters to take into consideration when going) into the proposal of a sportsground," he said. Asked if there was any way in which the sub-union or the Hawke's Bay Rugby TJnion could assist the council in the matter, Mr Maddison said that he had informally discussed with Mr Norrie and other leading officials of the union whether it could be possible for the union to lend financial assistance. "It is a matter that has to be considered, for it is possible that the union might be able to lend a certain amount to the council and take out a debenture for the amount," he said. Question of Loan Poll. Mr Maddison also mentioned that when it caine to a matter of finance local bodies had to take into consideration the question of the taking of a poll. He pointed out that only recently the Wellington and Palmerston North City Council had had loan proposals rejected and that, as far as Palmerston North is eoncerned it was for an improved water supply. This aspect had to be very carefully and seriously considered by local bodies and was already b'eing given considerable thought by the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Crown, who were endeavouring to assist local bodies, if possible, by providing means for more attractiye proposals to be plaeed before the ratepayers than had been possible in the past. The meeting deeply appreciated Mr Maddison's comprehensive survey of the question, which, it was said after the meeting, "cleared the air," and a vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor for his action.