Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEM. 28 l916. RACING CLUB AND TABLET RESERVE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1643, 28 November 1916, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEM. 28 1916. RACING CLUB AND TABLET RESERVE.

THE local Bacing Club lias declined the Borough Council's offer to sdl a portion of the Target Beserve at .tMo per acn l . The Bacing Club desires to obtain a few acres of the serve at the rear of the grandstand in order to afford more room for the public conveniences and to provide a right-of-way for trailic at I lie rear instead of having to trespass on the course, as at present. It is impossible for the Club to curry out necessary additions to public appointments without encroaching on the course, lienee the desire lo acquire a few acres of the Target Beserve. The Club, we understand, is prepared to exchange a strip of its reserve opposite Victoria Park for the land required, and we cannot sec why the Council does mil agree to this. The land which the Club offers to transfer is at present a wilderness of noxious weeds, but could, at little expense, lit 1 converted, out of reserve revenue, into n beauty spot which would lend an attractive approach to tin 1 town. While we enter an emphatic protest against the Council granting a lung term of lease of the Target Beserve to a private individual, we see no reason to a sale al a reasonable price or transfer from one set of public trustees to a not tier. It iiiusl not be forgotten that the Foxton race course is vested in the townspeople, as is (he Target Beserve, and the general public, athletic bodies, and military authorities have had at ail times free, access lo the racecourse reserve, and in these circumstances the Borough Council should not place any obstacle in the way of the Bacing Club improving its reserve in the public ini crest.