The Park Company's Property.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 October 1912, Page 3

The Park Company's Property.

ACTION BY LEVIN UOROUGIi COUNCIL. future ok the a. and p. show. At last evening's meeting of the Levin Borough Council, the secretary of the Rovowlienua A. and PAssociation submitted the lollowing statement: To the Mayor and Councillors of the Levin Borough. Gentlemen.—l am instructed by the committee of the Horowhenua Agricultural and Pastoral Association to forward the enclosed resolution passed at the meeting oi the Association held on Thursday. October 17.

-That the County Council and the Borough Council be respect!ully asked to contribute the sum of €37 10s each as a donation on behall ol the ratepayers towards the payment ol rent duo to the Park Company by the Horowhenua A. and P. Association. such payment to be made in two equal instalments of £18 10s. one forthwith and the balance during the next financial year.

The Mavor, addressing ihe ( ouneil. said that a short time ago an Application was made lor the appointment of a committee from the Council and from other bodies to ascertain from the Park Compan> the amount of money for which the\ would dispose of their land. The Company replied that tliev wore piepared to it for Go.-'OO. and the Borough Council felt that it could not entertain the idea. The result was the Park Company was placed in a very awkward position. For over two years the Company had paid the interest upon the grounds since the racing had been taken away from the town. 'Ihey had lost a revenue of £300 a year, and tbev bad to make up a sum at the bank of L'loO per annum. 'Independent of this, the Company bad practically expended C-"'? 7 1 upon the ground. Later the leading spirits in the movement, to save tin 4 grounds, held a meeting, and after negotiations with the Company, the price was lowered to I'o.OOO with two promises of C 2."0. There was no chance of bringing the matter before the Council again, and there was no chance of bringing a Dill before the House this session for tin 4 exchange of the reserve at the lake. The question then came up. "What was going to become of the show? It was apparent that if the show was to be retained the residents and ratepayers would have to assist it. The position was a serious one. and the question had to be faced. "Wore they going to part with the show? In the opinion of many nf those who exhibited, if the grounds were lost the show would automatically disappear from Levin. To illustrate that everyone was prepared to help in the matter, tin 4 Mayor pointed out that it was agreed that an effort should be made by the Park Company, the A. and P. Association. Borough and County Councils to try to raise equal contributions towards this year's interest, which amounted to L'loO. The A. and P. Association had begun liberally, and had already subscribed over I'lß. independent of any other donations. The amount it was proposed thai each body should contribute was £18 l-"s per annum for the next two years- C'B7 10s in all. In regard to tlie thorough, the Mayor maintained that it was essential that they should give their CIS los this year, and he hoped in the following year a similar .sum would be voted. Otaki would naturally be only too pleased to see the ground sold to-morrow morning. It would nu»an that the show would go tn Ofaki. and that the town would derive all the benefit from the great influx of people on show days. Taking Levin's .">lO ratepayers, it meant a charge of !)d per head per annum. He did not think there Mas any single ratepayer who would refuse to pay that Od out of the rates in order to keep the show at Levin. He moved: That the sum of GlB los lie voted to the Horowhenua A. and P. Association, towards the payment of rent, due to the Park Company, and that this Council will endeavour to vote a like sum during the next finan.-ial year, to the same object.

Councillor Blenkhorn seconded the motion. He thought. tin- proposal a Tnir and equitable one, iiml said that considering the previous generosity of the Park Company in meeting the A. «'ind P. Association, he considered they should only make some recompense by passing the motion.

Councillor Parker thought it si big point that the Borough should have to stand the same amount as tin.' County. Ho would like the Morouidi to help, but ho though (.the Coiiiity should help to a greater oxtent than the borough.

Councillor France supported Ihe motion, on the grounds of giving mutual help to an important local institution.

Councillor Lancaster also spoke in favour of the motion, remarkmg that it was the duty of the Council to take all reasonable And legitimate steps to retain the A. ami P. Show in and for the benefit of Levin and district.

The motion was unanimously agreed to.