THE SPORTS GROUND

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 17, 30 March 1938, Page 1

THE SPORTS GROUND

' DAMAGE TO MACHINERY ' : LACK op; CO-OPTATION ..'/Jf'."; ' . 2 ■ • ■' v COUNCIL DISAPPOINTED At. the mouthy meeting of the Opotiki Blorough Council, Air. Hultquist, AI.P., said lie had forjvarded the council’s letter re .the finances of the Domain Board, to the Minister of Internal Affairs, and asking him to favourably consider assisting the Board. The Minister replied that the request should be forwarded to the National Council for Recreation, it was also suggested the request be forwarded to the Minister of Lands.' The Hon. -Langstone in a letter to the Board stated that the request would receive every consideration and lie would write later.—Air. Briggs said the Domain Board was between £9O and £IOO in debt. Cr. Shalfoon said he would like to know how it came about that the Domain Board' asked the Minister for assistance. He asked the A layer if there was any hitch about the matter. In reply the Alayor said that if there was any free money about they thought the Board should try and get it. The town clerk said the bank manager had been making inquiries about the matter. The Domain Board had no power to incur an overdraft. Cr. Shalloon asked what happened to the money raised for a building on the reserve. Cr. Joimsaid replied that the money was for a gymnasium. -Cr. \Vebli said a Jot of money was being spent on the ground. Cr. Johnson expressed' the opinion that the sports body bad not played tlie game. Spikes liad been left in the ground and bad damaged the machine. Ur. Short mentioned an incident when ;v visiting cyclist had broken spokes in a. wheel and had thrown them into the grass. Cr. Slialfoon contended that too much time had been spent on the ground. Cr Short said that the sports meeting night bad been altered so that the cricketers could use the ground also from the one preparation. C-r. Webb said it seemed unreasonable to spend £*j or £6 cleaning up the ground when only 15s was received back. C r. Shalloon asked if it were 'compulsory for tlic council to do the work and pay out so much. He wished to know what the benefit was ty v ti'.e borough. The Alayor n plied that it was assisting sport. Cr. Johnson said what he didn't like was the spikes being Icit m the ground. He did not think it was Die athletes. Cr. Short referred to' Die meeting the council had had with Die* sports body and they had tins assurance that the position would be improved. Howcu'r it seemed to he the same as lielore. He considered it would he a good thing to make a contribution to the sports bodies using the ground and lot them maintain the grounds. Cr Shalfoon thought Die mower could he sold and the money used to pay the hank. Cr J. J. Aloody said lie was net in favour of handing over the upkeep of the grounds to the sports bodies. Cr. Stevenson said the sports bodies would have to realise- they would have to help more. Cr. Johnson said one spike referred t 0 had a head on it. Cr Stevenson suggested the sports bodies should * meet the council and the matter talked- over. Cr AVebb considered the county council should make a contribution to the cost of looking after the ground. Cr. Stevenson concurred in this 'view*. Cr. Shalfoon moved; that- the Alayor, Crs. Short, Stevenson and Johnson he a committee to meet the sports bodies. Cr Short said the whole of the council should deal with the question. The motion was seconded' by Cr.

Webb. Cr Short moved as an amendment that the whole council be a committee. Seconded by Or Stevenson and carried.