COUNCIL CRITICISED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 11

COUNCIL CRITICISED

TENNIS PLAYERS ANGRY RATES ON PLAYING AREAS From Our Oicn Correspondent HAMILTON, Today. Trenchant criticism of the Hamilton Borough Council for its recently announced policy of levying rates on domain lands was expressed at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Town Tennis Sub-Association last evening. The association had almost completed a five-years’ lease of grounds in Rosstrever Street, with the Domain Board, on which it was proposed to lay down five courts, when it learned that the council would not remit the rates.

Three sports bodies have now protested against the council’s attitude. Mr. IT. Blackwood pointed out that the late Mr. A. Swarbrick had had a special Act of Parliamc .t passed to enable the. council to waive the right of levying rates on this area. If sports bodies could not take up the area and make it an asset to the town, it would continue to be unoccupied and become covered with noxious weeds. Ratepayers could not object, because .no rates had been levied on the lands for years. If the present sports organisations would unite before the next election the whole of the council would go out on their necks. There is a strong feeling on the question in the town, and delegates from 20 clubs decided unanimously to proceed with the laying-down of the new courts and instructed the incoming executive to oppose any rates by the council.