EXTENSION OF RESERVES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 7

EXTENSION OF RESERVES

SPORTS BODIES LAY IMPORTANT PROPOSALS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL LOAN OF £51,000 SCHEMES FAVOURED-POLL OF RATEPAYERS TO BE TAKEN \ Early authority for the expenditure of the loan of 1650,000 for the purpose of making more adequate provision for recreation in the city was advocated by a deputation, representative of practically every sports body in Wellington, which waited bn the City Council last evening. After hearing the deputation and discussing the position, the council decided to place loan proposals (amounting in the aggregate to £'51,000) before the ratepayers.

Mr R. W. Sliallcrass, of the Sports Protection League,, urged the council to adopt the proposals of the reserves oommittee in respect to the extension of reserves. The deputation also desired that some finality should be reached in the matter of providing compensation for the loss of _ the Thorndon reserve. “During tho life of the present council there has been no extension of the reserves. This is a marked contrast to the work performed by some of your predecessors. Only maintenance has been undertaker} by you, and we urge that you support .the reserve committee’s proposals,” he added. The more urgent works that required attention were the erection of a dressing shed at Wakefield Park, the erection of a golf house in the Same locality, the making of provision for centrally situated tepid baths, and the laying out. of basket ball areas for women. He recognise that the expense of providing recreation areas in Wellington was considerable owing to the configuration of t-he city, but contended that the expense suggested would be justified by the revenue that would be derived from the areas, such as locker fees, etc. Mr J. Prendeville, president of the Wellington Rugby Union, and Miss Armstrong, representing the Basket Ball Association, supplemented the advocacy of the previous speakers. The latter mentioned that there were seventy-one basket ball teams in Wellington, and they had to depend for grounds on the courtesy of the various school, committees. The New Zealand basket ball tourney would be held in Wellington next season, and they were faced with the difficulty of having nq grounds.

THE VITAL QUESTION: MONEY The Mayor (Mr C. J. B. Norwood) pointed out that' the council was desirous of encouraging outdoor sports. However, the deputation came at a time when it was a question of raising the rates to make provision for sports, or leaving the matter in abeyance for a time. The Act provided that the Thorndon reserve had to be paid for, and that would he done by the Harbour Board paying any loss in connection with reclamation work now in progress. No one knfew what the cost of reclamation would be at present, hilt a special committee was being set up to consider the matter. It was the desire of the council to facilitate an amicable settlement in this connection. In regard to the request that the electric power house be utilised for mak-

ing provision for the tepid baths, he explained that this request imposed an impossible task on the council. The power house was in use, and if the scheme was to he carried out in its entirety they could not hope to have, the tepid baths for some considerable time. The property was now valued at £96,000. and another scheme proposed could be carried out at quarter of the er pense. SERIOUS CONSIDERATION He believed it was the duty of the council to consider this other proposal seriously in the circumstances. So far as the department was concerned they had not concerned itself with other thad the. £96,000 proposition, and he could not recommend it, to be perfectly frank. He admitted the genuineness of the case of the ladies, and expressed a desire to foster healthy recreation amongst women. The spirit and advocacy of the department would be taken into consideration, and would be gone into very carefully. POLL PROPOSED COUNCIL TO DECIDE Notice has l}een given by Councillor W. J. Thompson to move at the next meeting of the council on December 16th: “That all necessary steps be taken to take a poll of the ratepayers on a proposal to raise the sum of £51,000 for the following* purposes : £ Nairnville Park and Khandallah formation and dressing sheds 6,000 Wakefield Park and golf links, • combined golf pavilion and dressing sheds - .... 4,300 Prince of Wales Park dressing shed v ... 1,200 Nairn street reserve dressing shed 1,200 Anderson Park extension 4.400 Seaside Park, Island Bay 1,000 Purchase of land, Kaiwarra .. 3,000 Purchase of land, Miramar ... 3,000 Tepid swimming baths 12,000 Basin Reserve improvements .. 4,700 Keith Izard Park dressing shed, etc 1,200 Lyall Bay reserve, dressing shed, etc 2,500 Play area, Vogeltown 500 Western Park, formation and dressing shed 5.000, Asphalt basket-ball courts .... 1,000 Total £51,000 iiiiiiiiiiiitmiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiimmu