MORE PLAYING AREAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 928, 22 March 1930, Page 16

MORE PLAYING AREAS

SPORTS BODIES MEET ONEHUNGA RESERVE In his address to members of the Onehunga Sports Federation at the annual meeting last evening, the president, Mr. J. E. Green, alluded to the extensive improvements that had been effected to the Onehunga recreation reserve, an area of some 30 acres, on which 10 or mor» football and hockey grounds were now available. The Borough Council, he said, had agreed to the request Of the federated sports bodies to earmark all revenue derived from grazing fees for the maintenance of the reserve, and he urged upon the delegates present the necessity for co-operating with the council by contributing toward the necessary expenses in order that the playing surfaces should not be allowed to deteriorate and the money already expended be wasted. During the past 16 years, he said, the council had received the sum of £2,166 as grazing fees and had spent only £555 in improvements, so that the ratepayers had made a clear profit on the reserve of £1,611 during that time.

Last year, £2,379 had been expended on the ground, £I,OOO of which had been provided by the Patriotic Association and the balance by the Government and local sports bodies as relief work to unemployed ex-soldiers.

The Borough Council was now wanting to assist in keeping the ground in good playing order, and it was only fair that the clubs belonging to the federation should pay their just share of the expense. The council had agreed to subsidise on a £1 for £1 basis any contributions up to £IOO a year. The delegates present agreed to place the question before their clubs and report at a subsequent meeting. It was also decided to obtain from the council an estimate of the cost of rolling the grounds and cutting the grass. The secretary was instructed to inquire whether the Borough Council will subsidise the sum of £75 donated last year by the Rugby Union, the Hockey Association and the Onehunga Sports Federation. The sports bodies represented at the meeting were:—The Auckland Rugby Union, Auckland Hockey Association, Amateur Athletic Association, Onehunga Cricket Club, Manukau Rovers Football Club and Onehunga Football Club. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted: —President, Mr. J. E. Green: secretary, Mr. YV. Morton; terasurer, Mr. W. J. Tegg; committee, Messrs. C. J. Williams, A. Playle, R. Thomson and H. Watts. The Auckland Rugby Union, the Auckland Football Association and the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association are to be asked to arrange for attractive football matches and athletic contests on the reserve, when a charge for admission can be made, the returns to be expended on further improvements to the grounds. -