Providing for Future Generations

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 535, 19 May 1933, Page 18

Providing for Future Generations

E. G.

GUY

WHAT IS NEEDED " | • ' ROTORUA -CAN COMMAND A • I BETTER , POSITION IN | SPORT WORLD I ' MATERIAL IN DISTRICT Althougli Rotorua has ma^y outstand^ng faciiities for the | enjoymeut of athlctic-sport, it is necessary for all sporting or--, | gTiiiScitions to gct solidly beliind the movement to make and | mamtam Rotorua as the premier holiday ground of the Dominion. 1 Splendid natural opportunities exist and much has been aecom- i pli^hed, but it is wise to look ahead and provide for further, | at tractious. 1

BY

IN nrldition to the estab- ! llshed Rugby, hockey ( bowling, croquet, ' rifle, | golf, basketball, tennis, | and gymnastic clubs, etc., 1 new organisations of comparatively recent, birtli are tlie amateur athletic, swimming and men's liockey clubs. it says mucli for the town tbat nearly all of these organisations, if they are not prospering, are at least bolding their own. Some of them are very well catered for but with ofhers the reverse is the case and it is this aspect of the town's development which must interest not only the clubs themselves but also the city fathers. The most urgent need seems to be a eentral ground wliere a charge can be made for admission and the spectators housed in a reasonably comfortable grandstand. The town possessed this when it held the Pukeroa ground a natural amiptheatre and well sheltered from the wind. The ground could liave been made into a first class playing area and utilised for many purposes essential in a tourist. centre. However, the exigencies of the war period caused it to become tlie temporary site of a hospital. With the recently expressed desire of the Government to get rid of the present temporary buildings on the ground an opportunity presents itself to the sporting bodies to rally round the Rotorua Borougli Council and have restored to them what is really theirs by right. Ineidentally this ground as with many others in Rotorua was a gift to the

pcoplo by the Arawa people, and this is a fact Which should not be lost sight of. Failing the acquisition of tlie Pukeroa reserve, the only alternative seems to be a properly formed ground in the Kuirau Reserve. Thanks to the foresight of the present mayor this area has been secured to the people of Rotorua aud a section of it has been put aside for a first-class sports and foothall ground-. Overseas Teams Rotorua receives a visit from practically every overseas sports team that is brouglit to New Zealand. It is solely on account of the lack of a suitable ground that dozens of these teams in the past ha've left the town withput competing here. It is reasonahle to suppose that the governing bodies of all sports would be only too pleased to get a gate in Rotorua in order to help defray travelling costs

of teams which must, in any case, he sent either to or through here. It is apparent therefore, that if sport in Rotorua is to lceep its rightful place in the amenities of the community that a central ground must be provided. It must be confessed, however, that most of tlie bodies themselves are at the moment regarding this matter very apathetically. The controversy over tlie mooted shifting of the King George Y. Hospital has not brought a single expression of opinion from even one sporting body. These bocfies must' realise that if they are to he helped, then they must help themselves first.

Rugby Standard It is somewhat of an anomaly that Rughy football, 'whieh is really the i national winter game in New Zealand, should he much weaker here, both in playing ability _ and public support, than is the casd in any other towns ,in New Zealand of a similar size. Without seeking to analyse the position too closely, it would seem that one great drawback is - the ahseuce of a suitable gyinna^ium in tlie

town where proper coaching meth- | ods could be carried out and the players brought together during the i weelc. The greatest drawhack however, is, as stated above, the absence j of a really suitable ground. Rotorua Sub-Union was formerly affiliated to i tlie Bay of Plenty Union. On account of the fact that the union felt that j it was not getting proper treatment j from tlie Bay it cancelled its aifiliation and became attached to Waikato. Whether a sufficiently e'arnest j attempt was made to compose the I differences with the Bay is a matter on which the public is not competent to jndge, but' Rotorua, for Rughy purposes, is now in the anomalous position of being affiliated as a small unit to a large organisation in which it has n either communi'ty of interest nor influence. The position now is that all big Rugby matehes must be put on in the town where the best gate will be secured. This means that Rotorua will get the crumbs that fall from Plamilton's table. Our Rughy administrators' duties go further than the mere control of the week-end matehes; they also have a community duty and it is ohvious to outside observers that the district has little to gain ! from being hitched on to the tail end I of the Waikato. When this position is remedied and

I ground and training faciiities secured then may Rotorua confidently expecfc to take the position she is entitled to in the foothall world. The material here is certainly as good as that to he found anywliere else. Bright Prospects All things considered, the future of general athletic sports in the district seems to be very bright. The swimming cluh has faciiities unequalled in New Zealand and is a live body.

The tennis club is m a sound position. Both tlie amateur and professional athletic clubs rank high in the provinee, the Rotorua bowling and croquet tournaments are looked forward to and attract players from all parts, the Hockey Asociation has high hopes of securing the New Zealand tournament (no small lionour to a place the size of Rotorua) , tlie sport of basketball for girls is advancing amazingly and tlie organisation is one of the lceenest in the town.

The Rotorua Golf Club i's one- of the strongest in New Zealand and the game is receiving a still further fillip with the inauguration of the new Motutara Club which is rapidly finding its feet. The rifle cluh is progressing and, thanks to the work J' of a few enthusiasts we have a gym- ' nastic club, which, though not receiving a great deal of limelight, is nevertheless doing a very real community service. If the gymnasium was closer to town there is no doubt that this club would advance rapidly and here again ,is a matter of public interest that should receive the attention of the community as a wh'ole.

Altogether there is1 no douht that Rotorua is exeeptionally well cateredfor with athletic isports and thisr should augur well for the future >health! and physique of the youth' of the district and progressive manag.ement of the organisations should go far to ensuring its lincreasing atJractiveness as a tourist 'and -sportsman's mecca. ' _ ' . ,