OTAKI RACECOURSE ACCESS.

Shannon News, 25 October 1929, Page 4

OTAKI RACECOURSE ACCESS.

PATH FOR PEDESTRIANS AT END OF RIGHT-OF-WAY.

COUNTY ASSISTANCE FORTII-

COMING.

A request by the Otaki Maori Racing Club for financial asistance towards making a metalled pathway for pedestrians from the right-of-way at Mr. Kilmister’s section, along the western side of the road flanking the racecourse, to enable them to enter the course by the new gates. without encountering motor, traffic while'crossing the road, was placed before the Horovvhenua County Council on Saturday by n deputation consisting .of Messrs Hone McMillan and Ruihi Wehipeihana. After a full and free discussion, in which various opinions on the royal sport were introduced, the Council carried a motion, by seven votes to two, to contribute up to £lO towards the cost. The deputation was . introduced by Cr. Ryder. Mr. McMillan, in explaining the position, stated that the approach from Mr. Kilmistef’s gato to the entrance to the course was a half-chain road, and the club found that the traffic there had been so congested that there was a possibility of accidents occurring. They had discussed it among themselves and agreed to approach the County Council, to ask for a portion of the road to be metalled, so that people coming through Mr. Kilmister’s property —where the club had a private right-of-way from the railway station —would keqp on one side of the road, instead of crossing the road to get to the gate. . They would thus be able to pass the motorcars and gain access to the course without accident. The club had considered the cost, and were willing to bear half of "it. The metal for the purpose was situated about twenty chains from the spot and on the club’s property. The club were capable of carrying out the work, but they looked to the local body to make a better job of it. The chairman (Mr. Monk): What is the distance? Mr. McMillan: It is about six chains from , Mr. Kilmister’s gate ,to, the entrance to the course.

The chairman*: Would this footpath take them to a point beyond where the cars cross the road?

Mr.' McMillan: Yes. We have put the entrance back a little, and the cars can turn round now where they could not do so previously. ' Cr. Colquhoun: It really means that pedestrians would get round in front of the cars? Mr. McMillan: Yes.

Cr. Gimblett stated that he was present at the race-course recently. The new gates,, erected by the club were on their own property, and they were not asking the Council to contribute towards anything in there, but were asking that the width of metal be increased from Mr. Kilmister’s gate to where the County road touched private property. He asked the deputation if they proposed a separate footpath or an addition to the present road. Mr. McMillan: It would be much better if it was made a footpath; it would keep the cars right off the road. Stipendiary Stewards’ Representation. The speaker added that this matter had also been mentioned to the dub by the stipendiary stewards. That was one reason why the club tvere approaching the Council.

The chairman: You are anxious to give protection to the public who would be attending your race meetings, and you would use Mr. Kilmister’s right-of-way. In answer to a question by Cr. Jensen, Mr. McMillan stated that the right-of-way was not a legally constituted one, but was held from year to year.

Cr. Jensen: What would be your position if they refused permission?

Mr. McMillan: We would have to go right round the road.

Cr. Jensen: And would not be any better off for the footpath?

Mr. McMillan: To some extent. I don’t think Mr. Kilmister would block it. It is only for four days a year, and he gets consideration for it. He has never had any objection to our going through. Cr. Colquhoun: Even if-he did object, the path would still be of benefit, because that is where the traffic is most congested?

Mr. McMillan: Yes. The Probable Cost.

Cr. Bryant asked what the job would cost. ' ’

The County Engineer (Mr. Brewster) stated that about £2O would make a good job of it. There would be metalling and a little formation to do. The price did not provide for kerbing or tar-sealing. Cr. Ryder stated that this position had been forced on the club; it was owing to the starting post having been altered by the stipendiary stewards. The chairman: If the Council don’t do it, will the club have to do it themselves?

Cr. Ryder: Yes. The chairman: Would they do it? Cr.' Ryder: Yes, I feel certain they would.

Mr. McMillan: If we cannot get any assistance from the Council, we shall' have to take the bull by the horns and do it ourselves. The chairman: You contend that there would be some benefit to the county ratepayers who would use that road, as well as to race-goers?. Mr. McMillan: Yes, I do. » The chairman: We will consider this matter and let you know the result of your representations.

The deputation thanked tho Council and withdrew. Council’s Discussion.

In. thp subsequent discussion, the chairman said that Mr. McMillan had not said whether it was necessary to have a kerbing, but if the club were going to have a footpath to make the place safe from motor traffic, it would need a kerbing, which would cost a good cleal more money.

Cr. Ryder said he had seen the spot, and several members of the Works

Committee had seen it, and he had discussed it with his colleagues. He thought it was a case of helping those who had helped themselves. The club had offered half the cost, and, in the interests of the public, it was a job that should be done. The Council could try it without a kerbing, and if a kerbing was found necessary it could be added later. It w T as in the interests of the people who came by train that the club ; s request should be granted. The club would find the metal, independently of paying half the cost of the work. He moved that the Council contribute up to £lO. Cr. Bryant seconded the motion. Cui Bono?

Cr. Jensen said this appeared to him

to be somewhat in the nature of a riding mutter; but he thought that the Council could go a little beyond that and say that it was more than a riding matter. Anything that was of benefit to the ratepayers was a riding matter, but when it eaine to a question of a racing elub catering for the general public who came by train —a club that only had this access from year to year—the position w r as different. When the suggestion was made that the expenditure might be doubled by putting a kerb down, the Council was on dangerous ground. They had also to consider that they did not know the financial state of the club. The latter might have more funds to make that small improvement, which was of no benefit except to such of the ratepayers as might attend the races for a few' days in the year. For that reason ho thought that the work was not called for, and he also thought that the money that would be available for that purpose was in the nature of a gamble. He could call to mind things of which the ratepayers were badly in need, in the way of better access to tkeir properties and the money could be better v spent for those ratepayers. For that reason he would move, as an amendment, 1 that the club be granted permission to. construct a footpath; the same to be done to the satisfaction of the County Engineer. Comparison with Levin.

By way of explanation, Cr. Jensen said that he had not anything in particular against the racing club —that was far from his mind —but ho did not think that the Council would be spending the ratepayers’ money rightly. Work which had been done at the showground and racecourse in Levin was under different conditions; the Levin club had access to the footpath when that was done. There had been no doubt that it would be of- benefit in that case; 'at Otaki there was a great doubt. Would the Otaki club allow the public to walk on the ; metal footpath, which would be rough? He had been on the ground when the traffic had not been controlled, and it had been almost impossible to leave the ground—not on account of the foot traffic, but because of the cars. The proposal

might give the public better facilities to enter the .grounds, but he did not see the right of asking the ratepayers to foot the bill. A number of Otaki Borough people might lise the path, but the, club were not asking the Borough Council to contribute. “Evils of Gambling.”

Cr. Catley, in seconding the amendment, said that the expenditure of any money for the welfare of the district had his hearty support, but he would never be a party to the spending of money to facilitate the evils of gambling. „ Cr. Gimblett: I went there the other day and viewed the-proposed work. I have been to one race meeting in* 25 years, but when a man takes on a public position he must realise that he is catering for all. It has been suggested that those making the request are not ratepayers. They pay £6l per annum in rates. There is the questionof traffic control. The scheme outlined by the deputation is, to a very large extent, going to separate the pedestrian traffic from the motor traffic, and this idea carried out will do it effectively. The amount of money asked for is not out of proportion to what

they contribute annually in rates. Where there is such a' body of people represented as attends a race meeting, then one of the duties of a public body is to cater for the safety of those people. I feel bound to support the request that wo spend £lO to help them along. Question of Public Safety.

Cr. Colquhoun said he supported the motion from the point of view of public safety. “You may say,” he added, ‘ ‘ that if a man goes to the races he should not be protected, but I think he should be protected as much as anyone else.”

Cr. Barber suggested that any money given by the Council should be spent on a kerbing to protect the traffic. The chairman: Ten pounds would not do it—not a wooden kerbing. Cr. Barber: Well, let the Council make a contribution of £lO, provided that that sum is used for that purpose. The chairman: The only thing in it for the Council is the protection of the pedestrian public who are on our roads, irrespective of where they come from. The question of whether I am a racing man or otherwise does not matter.

Cr. Colquhoun: It would bo a small item for them to rope it off for four days a year.

Rates Contrasted with Road Wear. Cr. Jenson: It was stated that the Otaki Maori Racing Club contributed a fairly large sum as a ratepayer. I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that the racing clubs are doing more damage than any other ratepayer. The amount of wear on the roads on race days is something enormous. In that respect alone, for the small amount they contribute in rates, they are getting more benefit than any other ratepayer in the County. I would like to know, where is it going to end? Pause and think before you go too far in slinging about public money. I am not concerned as to whether I am a racing man or not; I am looking at the broad principle. Can we afford to contribute to everyone who comes along, whether he is a ratepayer who has given a full return, or a sports

body. If they cannot successfully run their sport and do that little bit of improvement, stop it; we can do without it. If they are that badly off, they ought not to run it, but should say, “We are bankrupt; we cannot go any further.”

Cr. Ryder: To make the speech that Cr. Jensen has made, when only £lO is at stake, is wasting the time of the Council. Members of the Works Committee and the engineer have seen it and must admit that, in the interests of the public, those few pounds should be spent. The amendment was lost, only Crs. Catley and Jensen supporting it. The motion was then cairied the same two Councillors opposing it. Council to Carry Out the Work if Convenient.

Cr. Ryder informed the chairman that it was the wash of the club that the Council carry out the work.

Cr. Jensen: I object. We have our men fully employed. The chairman: No;-we have got to find work for them.

Cr. Ryder: If the engineer cannot sec that this can he done by the Council without interfering with the bitumen, I will see that the club do it. It was then resolved, on the motion of Cr. Ryder, seconded by Cr. Bryant, that tho Council do the work, if convenient in view of other works in hand. Crs, Catley and Jensen did not vote. Tho chairman told Cr. Ryder that the Council would look to him to see that the club -paid its share. Cr. Ryder stated that the club would do so.

Cr. Jensen: We will get a free ticket on this. (Laughter).