The Golf Links.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 23 May 1918, Page 3

The Golf Links.

MUNICIPAL OR CLUB CON-

TROL

Cr Mackenzie 1 reported to the Borough Council 011 Monday evening on the best method of using the newly forniea municipal golf links. He said that he and Cr Bryson had gone into the matter of charges and had written to Wellington to tiucl out what were the charges for play on the municipal golf links there. The reply was that a fee of lsifor a ninehole game or 3s for the season for men was charged. Cr Mackenzie said that loc'al goiters clid not consider the idea of charging per round would he workable as they would not be able to have a caretaker there all tiie time. They thought that an annual subscription of £1 for men and 10s for ladies would be a fair charge and would popularise the game. This was based on the assumption that the Council would only require sufficient revenue for the upkeep of the links. The Mayor said one important matter was: Had the Club decided to take the matter of upkeep in hand. The question of labour was a difficult one for the Council and if a Club Avere formed it could find its own labour.

Cr Bryson said the formation of a Club would do away with the municipal control of the links. The Mayor considered it was only a question of the best method. Cr Lancaster: Let the Council keep its own hand on it. Cr Aitken considered the Borough should keep control as a club would undoubtedly tend to restrict Ihe use of the links. Cr Bryson said that in the Old Country twenty clubs were formed round one links, and individuals by the payment of a small fee could take their place on the

links. The Mayor contended that the question was only one of control. The players would be the same whether the Council or the Club controlled it.

Cr Bull asked what would become of a fee paid by a visitor to the town who wanted an 'afternoon's sport. Would the Council or the Club get it?

Cr Lancaster said the reserve belonged to the people and he was not in favour of it going out of the Council's hands. He considered they should have more than enough money to pay for cutting the grass and general upkeep. The Council should reimburse itself for its expenditure on the links anel he suggested a bigger fee than that proposed by the Committee. Cr Parker was not in favour of the report as he considered the subscription on the small side. A lot of money was being spent solely for golfing and he was not in favour of the ratepayers being" called upon to pay anything towards it.

The Mayor suggested (hat the report be referred hack to 'lie Committee to winch all the members of the Council be added and the matter could then be thoroughly threshed out with further information before them.

Ci Matheson said whichever way it went it was more or less of a speculation. He asked was there any way of assessing the cost of upkeep and so basing the subscription on that. Cr Aitken seconded the Mayor's suggestion, and it was decided to meet on Friday.