PAEROA DOMAIN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5053, 17 November 1926, Page 3

PAEROA DOMAIN.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. Tlie monthly meeting of the Paeroa Domain Board was held on Thursday night last, following .the Borough Council meeting. The chairman (Mr W. Marshall) presided over the following : Messrs E. Edwards, P. E. Brenan, F. E. Flatt, J. W. Silcock, G. P. de Castro, E. A. Porritt, H. J. Hare, J. Pinder, and the secretary (Mr W. C. Alexander). CROQUET GREEN.

The Paeroa Croquet Club wrote advising that owing to the large number of members it had been decided to have three smaller lawns instead of tlie two that were available formerly. The board was asked to> supply a set of regulation hoops for the extra lawn. The chairman said that a set would cost about 48s. It had not been the practice of the board to provide requisite.? for any of the sports bodies. He thought the club should provide its own gear.

Ih answer to Mr E. A. Porritt the chairman said that the croquet club did not have the exclusive right to the lawns. It was a matter of establishing a precedent, which would be a risky thing to do.

The; chairman moved that the board regretted that it could not accede to the request owing to the principle involved. Mr de Castro seconded the resolution, and agreed with the remarks of the chairman.

Mr Flatt said that the board had increased the rent, and while not wishing to establish any precedent, he thought the board might very well have the hoops made locally and hand them to the club.

The chairman pointed out that the maintenance of the lawn in excess of the rent received would be a direct charge on the ratepayers, and it was undesirable to add further to the rates.

Messrs Silcock and Hare supported the resolution.

Mr Pinder said he had never heard o'f sports greens being paying propositions, and he was strongly opposed to the resolution.

The resolution was carried on the voices.

RENTAL OF CROQUET LAWN.

The Paeroa Croquet Club wrote as follows in connection with the rental of the lawn :—

“This club does not consider that the erection of a ladies’ public restroom, the provision of special stormwater drainage 'for paths, and the painting of the pavilion, all of which are necessary expenditure in a domain used by the public, should be considered when determining the fee to be charged the club for the use of the lawn and pavilion. However, it seems quite plain that we must accept the terms you offer, and we hope that during the season the lawns, will be kept in better playing condition than was the case last season.” Mr Edwards said that the letter was a very sporting one.v Mr Hare thought that the IWard should express its appreciation of the letter and advise the club that the caretaker would be instructed to give the lawn extra attention this year. The chairman pointed out .that the lawn could not be kept in better condition than alst season without a hgavy additional cost, which would have to be borne by the ratepayers. Last year the rental received from the club was £2O, where.as the actual expenditure for maintenance only was £26. ’ Mr Brenan said that the board did not charge the cost of the pavilion to the Croquet Club, and that point should be made’clear to the club. For over ten years he had advocated that sports bodies should pay a rent in keeping with the expenditure on their particular areas, and hq still saw no reason why he should change his mind.

Mr Flatt said that the club was not satisfied, and he would like to see the impression removed that the club was being charged with other improvements. After further desultory discussion tlie matter was referred to the do-