SHORTAGE OF SPORTS GROUNDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 319, 2 April 1928, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF SPORTS GROUNDS

A POINT that seems to have been overlooked in the leasing' of the Remuera hockey ground to the Auckland Girls’ Athletic Association is that the problem of solving the shortage of sports grounds in Auckland becomes more complicated. Although intended primarily as a recreation reserve, the Remuera ground is held under a private trusteeship which is quite within its rights in leasing on the most advantageous terms. Further than that, the girls’ athletic movement in the city has made tremendous strides in the past few years and the A.G.A.A. is performing work of unquestioned value to the community. As a result of the agreement, however, the Hockey Association finds itself destitute of playing areas and it has been suggested that the hockey authorities may yet have to approach the new lessees and ask permission to retain portion of their former grounds on a sub-lease. The City Council is already worried by the cry for more, and still more, playing areas for a rapidly growing population. It will now probably find itself faced with a request from the hockey authorities to share in the limited number of grounds at present available for sport unless some arrangement (not at present apparent) can be made to help the hockey supporters out of their difficulty—and there is a possibility that all sports bodies leasing city reserves may find themselves detrimentally affected.