EASTON PARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2614, 2 August 1923, Page 2

EASTON PARK.

MEETING OF CITIZENS

FOOTBALLER'S PREDOMINATE

THE MAYOR ISSUES A CHALLENGE.

At last meeting' of the Borough Council a letter was read from Mr A. S. Easton, the donor of Easton Park, expressing- his wishes in connection with the n: > of the park. The Mayor on his own motion and easting vote and in the absence of two of the Councillors, put through a resolution to convene a public meeting to ascertain the wishes of the public as to the use and administration of the reserve. The reserve is used as a football field, the Council receiving 111 per cent of the gate at all matches and the Hornwhenua Rugby Union the- balance. At the annual meeting of the Beautifying Society a resolution was carried recommending the Council to terminate the agreement with the Rugby Union allowing football to be played on the park. The Council passed a resolution on June 11th allowing football to be played on the park until the end of the present season when the Council would review the matter. Tn the meantime the Beautifying Society has decided not to continue operations at the park. The wishes of the Beautifying Society and donor are known to the Council and the Mayor in convening a public meeting, sought to obtain a mandate to override the Council’s jurisdiction and responsibilitv in the matter.

At Tuesday night’s meeting there was an attendance of upwards of 50 persons, members of the football club predominating. The Mayor was elected to the chair and explained the object of the meeting. He said the object was to get an expression of opinion as to the use of the park as a playing area for football. He referred to the Beautifying Society’s resolution asking the Council to terminate the agreement for the playing of footkali there. He felt sure that that resolution was going to be reversed at the meeting. He then animadverted on some of Mr Moon same on some of Mr McMurray’s remarks at a previous meeting, and challenged Mr McMarray to a football kicking competition.

Mr Mo.MMurry:ay: “I accept the ( hallenge.” A voice: “Go on to the business of the meeting.’,’ The Mayor said the reports about footballers injuring the shrubs was greatly exaggerated. It was a storm in a tea cup. He had seen the top of a cabbage tree chewed by a cow and he supposed the footballers would be Warned for that. The Mayor was told to “cut that Oltt.”

The Mayor then read a letter from Mr Perreau, president of the Beautifying Society, thanking him for calling the meeting and expressing the hope that some wise recommendation would be submitted to the Council. The Mayor then went on to eulogise Mr Perreau’s work in connection with the Beautifying Society and Chamber of Commerce and said that that gentleman was not in favour of preventing football being played on the park. He said it would be in the business interests of Foxton to have football played on the park, for if it was played on the racecourse people from Himatangi who attended the match would go home without doing any shopping in the town. He then read Mr Easton’s letter and said the donor’s wishes should be earned out “as far as practicable.” He read a letter from the Town Clerk of Levin in connection with the capital cost and maintenance of the Levin public gardens, an area <>f a little over an acre. He said it would be too expensive to convert and maintain Easton Park as a beauty spot. The cost would be about £2,000 and upkeep about £205 per year. The soil at the park was also not suitable. He then moved the following resolution: “That this meeting of citizens recommends the Borough Council to favourably consider the allocation of the centre of Easton Park as a playing area, to be used for cricket and children’s games in the summer months, and for football in the winter at the Council’s pleasure. That a strip of ground on each side of the park he fenced for the protection of t reos and shrubs; that the Borough Council, Beautifying Society and the Rugby Union he requested, to cooperate in the carrying out of this work. Mr V. E. Bryant seconded the motion. Mr McMurray moved the following amendment: “That this meeting desires to respect the wishes of Air A. S. Easton, the donor of tlie park.”

In speaking to the amendment, Mr McMurray said there was no necessity for calling a public meeting to settle a small matter of this kind. It made the Borough Councillors look ridiculous. If the Councillors were not able to deal with the question of Easton Park without calling a public meeting, the sooner they resigned the better. This bickering was a had advertisment for the town and it gave no encouragement to townspeople to assist in helping a deserving cause. Mr Banks asked why shouldn’t they have a public meeting. He had left other work to attend. The Council would he gratified that such a good meeting had been held and he v, as there to do what he could to help the matter. He was an independent man and the meeting gave a chance to speak one’s mind. Mr McMurray said the Council could raise a loan of £I,OOO and carry out a scheme, the interest and

sinking fund of which could be met by the rates which were now charged against the two parks and which amounted to £64 15/- per annum. If there was not enough land for football more could be acquired with this sum and Mr Black’s orjginaw scheme carried out. He strongly resented the Mayor’s accusation that the Beautifying Society were against football. The present football field interfered with the carrying out of the original scheme. The amendment was withdrawn and Mr H rnblow m wd the following: “Thai in ordei io give iTTec-t to the wishes of the donor of Easton Park and to popularise the reserve, this meeting recommends that the Borough Council set aside a playing area for children provided with swings, and other means of amusement and recreation and if necessary a loan be submitted to the ratepayers to cover cost of same; tlmt (he Beautifying Society be asked to expend the sum of £IOO as recommended at its annual meeting on a beautifying scheme as soon as the Council lias definitely settled a policy in connection with the park.” Tn spen king to the amendment, Mr Hornblow said the Mayor’s action in convening the meeting was a retied ion upon the Council’s ability to deal v/:h this matter. Whatever the meeting decided could only be in the nature of a recommendation to the Council which alone had the power to deal with the reserve. The Mayor was endeavouring to seek a backing from the footballers to force bis views on the Council. The Mayor: I object to a loan. Mr Hornblow said the Mayor’s objection was a private one and he bad no right to dictate whether a loan was required or not. The onus was on the ratepayers not on the Mayor or Council. In any ease finance might be arranged without recourse to a loan. He was not opposed to football, tennis or other games being played on the park, but the fact should not be overlooked that the footballers already had one of the best football grounds in the Dominion on the racecourse. His chief concern was a playing ground for the children, which the donor had in view when he made the gift. He was surprised to hear one speaker say the children had plenty of playing grounds on the street. The streets were not the place for children. His amendment did not preclude football or other games which could be allowed at the discretion of the Council, but it laid down definite recommendations for the Council and would, if carried, lead—to something definite and comply with the wishes of the donor and the general public. Mr Alex Ross seconding the amendment, concurred with the previous speaker’s views. The Rev. Walton also objected , the way the Mayor bad eonstnieu matters in regard to the Beautifying- Society and the footballers. He would be pleased to see football on Easton Park if other games and recreation grounds were provided for. but it was useless to try and beautify it as long as football occupied the centre of the ground. He supported the amendment.

The Mayor in putting the amendment reminded the footballers that it did not state that football was to be played. The amendment on being put was lost by 23 votes to/15, the footballers voting solid against. Those who supported the amendment included tlie throe Councillors present. The Mayor’s motion was put and carried by a similar vote. Air Alex. Ross then moved that an independent committee be set up to administer the affairs of Easton Park. Air Ross explained that by appointing an independent committee who favoured no particular party, they should get a more satisfactory state of affairs. Air Rimmer seconded. This ‘motion met a similar fate as the alneiidment. The matters in connection with (lie park remain as at nresent until the subject is again re-opened by the Council.