ORGANISED SPORTS IN TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 117, 23 April 1954, Page 4

ORGANISED SPORTS IN TAUPO

THE formation of a Rugby Football club in Taupo, reported in the "Times" last week, is a hopeful sign. For some little time there has been no local club functioning, a fact that is somewhat difhcult to understand in view of past football activities in the town and the greatly increased population of the past few years. Football has, however, in a number of towns in recent years, not prospered as in former years, and it I is to be hoped that the new club will infuse new life into the game in Taupo. The list of the new club's officers, from the patron to committee and coaches, contains a number of names well-known in football circles loeally and further afield, which augurs well for its chances of success. Another good sign in connection with organised sport in Taupo has been the increased interest in cricket in the past two years, evidenced during the summer now ended by the playing of several teams, including one from the Taupo School. Yet another indication of interest in outdoor recreation has been the introduction of girls' marching to Taupo, and the announcement recently that the local Club was continuing training during the winter and would have a second team next summer. All the foregoing sports require suitable areas for their activities, and ther^ is no doubt that the ground available is not at present in as good a condition as could be desired. Steps toward remedying" this position have, however, been taken recently by the Borough

Council, which, in its capacity as the Taupo Domain Board, controls the recreation reserve. Arrangements have been made for levels to l5e taken, so that a scheme of laying out the area between the Memorial Hall and the road to the Dam may be planned. Any such development will take time, for part of the area will have to be kept in use while the rest is under construction, and the cost will not be negligible. In this connection, there would seem to be rooni for a greater spirit of selfhelp than has been evidenced, or than has perhaps been possible, in the past. Greater population should enable more to be done, by the members of the actual sports organisations concerned, toward helping the realisation of their needs in the way of grounds and facilities. The gesku're m,ade recently by the Taupo Marching Girls, as reported in this issue, in making a donation to the Council toward the cost of preparing a suitable level area for marching, is a fine example of public spirit and self-help. Such action by sports bodies must strengthen the hands of the Council, by evidencing that they have the will and desire to help themselves. There is no doubt that the more in earnest sports bodies show themselves to be the more help a local authqrity will feel justified in giving them. Taupo has not been without other good examples of such spirit of self-help, as consideration of the hard work done in developing their amenities by the Golf Club and the Bowling Club will prove.