BOWLERS AND BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4773, 7 November 1924, Page 2

BOWLERS AND BOARD.

NEW ARRANGEMENT. RESULT OF CONFERENCE. A special meeting or the Domain Board was held on Tuesday night, when there were present Messrs W. Marshall (chairman), E. Edwards, J. W. Silcock, W. Bain, T. P. Vuglar, H. M. Shand, G. P. Lamb, F. E. Flatt, and the clerk, Mr W. C. Alexander. A deputation from the Paeroa Bowling Club, comprising Messrs D. Brown (president), J. Pinder, and W. Forrest, waited upon the Board. The chairman intimated .that the special meeting of the board had been called to receive a deputation from the bowling club and to consider the whole question of the use of the bowling green. They all wanted to haye an arrangement fair for the ratepayers and the bowlers. They were going to have a round-table talk or conference. The members of the board wanted to know what the bowling club was prepared to do, and the board would do its best co help the club while safeguarding the interests of lhe ratepayers as a whole. He did not think the differences were so great .that a satisfactory solution could not be reached. They wanted to look at the matter from different points of view. The board wap out to assist every sport, but they must also consider the general body of ratepayers. The board was pleased .to have representatives from the bowling club with them to discuss the matter. Mr D. Brown, president of the Bowling Club, thanked the chairman for his co.’dial welcome to the representatives of the bowling club. He hoped that they would come to a satisfactory arrangement regarding rent and upkeep of the bowling green. The club had no concrete propopals to make to the board. The club recognised that the board was trying to do the best for the ratepayers us a whole. Tlie three delegates had discussed the positron since the meeting of the duo ana they suggested that the board should charge a rental of £5O and the ciub would agree to expend any surplus funds for the next live years in improving the green. Another suggestion w.ap that the board charge a rental of £1 and the club employ the caretaker and pay a certain sum for the use of materials and implements.

Mr Pinder und Mr Forrest spoke in support of these suggestions. They pointed out that the ratepayers would not lose, us the club would spend all its surplus funds-on the board’s property.

Mr Forrest referred to the charges made by other boards to clubs. A general discussion ensued. The chairman pointed out that last year lhe board had to pay £lO4 for the upkeep of the bowling green. It was stated that members of the club were prepared to do extra labour required in addition to the work of the caretaker.

Mr Forrest emphasised that no member of the club wanted more than what he was prepared to pay for. The club did not want anything for nothing. They considered £5O a year was ample to pay for what was required from the board. The balancesheet of the board might show that £lO4 was expended on the green, but the ci ub did not .think it was getting that much worth of value from the board.

Mr Flatt asked the deputation how much per member the club was prepared to pay to the board. rhe deputation admitted that the question had not been considered. The chairman s,aid that the members of the board had given the whole matter much consideration, especially during the past week since the meeting of the club. He was glad to hear that the club was willing to pay for all it received from the board. He made the following proposals to the club

Thai subject to the acceptance in writing by the Bowling Club of the principle that the cost of maintaining bowling facilities should be borne by bowlers, a,nd for the purpose of this principle “maintaining such facilities” shall, be defined as the maintenance of everything within the fence or hedge surrounding the bowling green, including a fair proportion of the maintenance or purchase of tools used exclusively for bowling and croquet greens, or if used for othei purposes as well then, a, fair propoltion only of such maintenance, but not including the periodical painting of the pavilion or seats. That provided always that the minimum amount contributed by the Bowling Club shall be £6O per annum, the club shall have the following privileges: (1) Through the president only, to give all reasonable instructions to the caretaker concerning the maintenance of the green and what work shall, be done ; (2) *o provide under instructions from the president any desired voluntary assistance ; (3) the president shall have the right to examine the daily time docket of the caretaker, which shall be in the hands of the secretary of the Domain Board every two weeks ; (4) that for the purpose of computing the contribution made by the bowlers to the said maintenance there shall be credited .the fee paid bv the Bowljng Club, fees paid by other bowlers, and fees paid by night players ; (5) included in the maintenance charges there shall be the amount paid to the Power Board for light, and for the next four years onefifth of the capital cost of installing the electric light; (6) that provision will be made for having the annual returns made up to June 30 in each year ; (7) if any alteration is desired at any time in these arrangements 12 months’ notice shall be given of suca desire. proposals were discussed by the conference and the club’s delegates retired to another room to consider their reply. Mr Brown later intimated that on behalf of the club they would accept the proposals. They appeared to be most satisfactory, and he' would have no hesitation in signing same. The chairman pointed out that since 1916 the charge for the season had been based on the expenditure of

the previous year. The board had tspent £lO4 last year and the club’s share was set down at £BO. The club had agreed to pay the £7O. The board had gone to the expense of topdressing. the green. The extra £i<y must be found somewhere. It would not be fair to take it from the general rates. The bowlers had receivedthe benefit of the expenditure. Aftei further discussion the board agreed that if the members of the deputation would guarantee the payment of the extra filO 1 the board would paint the pavilion and instal sanitary conveniences if possible, consider the question of enlarging the bank around the green, and discuss the matter of hedges. The deputation agreed to this and thanked the board for the courteous way the matter had been discussed, and congratulated the chairman on the way he had conducted the conference and the result which had been obtained. The chairman, in reply, said thaU thougn he had been the mouthpiece of the board the proposals were the work of the whole board. The members had discussed the matter thoroughly. They were anxious to 46* the best for the ratepayers and the club.