GAMES ON EASTON PARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2404, 14 March 1922, Page 3

GAMES ON EASTON PARK.

DEPUTATION TO .THE COUNCIL,

CROQUET AND TENNIS v FOOTBALL.

A deputation consisting of Messrs McMurray and Bryant (Tennis Club) and Dr. T. J. Rowley (Croquet Club I, waited on the Council last night with a view of trying to alter the agi-eement arrived at some time ago by the Council and the Football Club re granting the Football Club permission to play east, and west, on the Park.

Mr McMurray said the present courts in Ravensworth Place were not lax’ge enough for the present membership. Thei’e was no room to enlarge them, therefore they had decided, seeing that the Council was having Easton Park levelled and laid down, t\_ask the Council to set aside a piece of the ground for tennis. He presented a petition of the players, asking that this be done, and pointed out (nat there was .only one member who had not signed it, and that was because he suggested carrying the exnbankment out at the present courts to the railway line, thus giving sufficient room for another set of courts. He also pointed out that the present Club had an ovei'draft at the Bank' of between £9O and £IOO, and it was their idea to sell the present courts and wipe out this debt. If, the Council decoded' to their request, a caretaker would be inquired to look after the courts, and they were prepared to raise the membership subscription £1 Is a yeax’, and to pay the Council £25 a year towards the upkeep of the courts. By laying courts down at Easton Park the gi'ound would be beautified, also tennis courts catered for all. (The only trouble was that the football ground would have to he shifted. He suggested the footballers play aci'oss the bottom ' end. r ]'h ere is hardly room there, but if the drain was piped ip, a matter of £4OO, there would he sufficient room.

Dr. Rowley said that members oC the Croquet; Club were unanimoulv in favour of moving to Easton Park, The change would mean additional membership and much more pleasant surroundings for them. They were also prepared to pay a share of the cost of upkeep of Easton Park if grantcil space to play there. He produced a petition, of croquet players requesting that this should he done."

The Mayor said that the Council was quite sympathetic in the promoting of sport, but it would he very difficult to alter the decision arrived at with the footballers. The piping in of the drain would be very expensive. ' i

Mr McMurray pointed out that in the original plan the gi'onhd was laid out for tennis and croquet, but had subsequently been given to the foothallei’s for football. Another thing to consider was that; football was played for only a short time, whereas croquet and tennis was played nine months of ihe year. Taking the foothallei’s on the whole, he was certain that they were too good sports to stand in the way of tennis and croquet if the only difficulty was the ground. The footballers could play at the race, course and Victoria Park. / Cx\ Smith asked if the Tennis Club had approached the footballers in the matter.

Mr McMurray said they had, and they had agreed to play at the bottom of Easton Pai’k if-there was sufficient room,

Cr. Thompson asked where the boundary was at the south end of the ground. Mr McMurray said that they had taken it as the extreme side. That, gave them about fifteen yards. Cr. Bryant said that the boundary was in the middle of flic drain, and if they piped the drain they would only,get about two yards extra in places.

Cr. Boss suggested that the different clubs get the measurements of the ground they required, and., the Council have a proper survey made of Easton Park, and then they would know how they stood.

Cr. Walker said thaf the footballers had said that there was not room enough north and south. Cr. Coley said (hat he did not see why the footballers should be shot out of Easton Park. Why not the tennis players go up to Victoria Park or the race course? They were very anxious to send the footballers there.

Tt was decided that a. special meeting of the Council be held on March 20fh to meet representatives of the various sports bodies to discuss the whole matter of playing areas on Easton Park, and in the interim each club he asked to supply details of its requirements, together with the.area and a proper measurement be made of Easton Park to see if these requests can he acceded to.