The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1903. WANTED—A SPORTS GROUND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 246, 16 November 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1903. WANTED—A SPORTS GROUND.

There is a consensus of opinion that, given line weather on a public holiday anything in l the nature of sports will draw big attendances m New Plymonth, and yet we find no suitable ground locally in which to hold a sports gathering. We do not wish to 'detract from the beauties ol' our Recreation Ground—that would be useless indeed. Far and uoar the name of the New Plymouth Recreation Ground is quoted when 'beauty spots form the subject of conversation, but it is also generally agreed that for purposes of athletic sport we are lamentably lacking. Then; is no reason for this, except tliat we have no sports ground. That theie are many athletes of note, and hundreds more who show great promise we have not the slightest doubt ; in fact, it is well known that this dis-1 trict produces athletes who can more Until hold their ovyn with any in. the colony. Mr Webster, who recently established records in shor'. 'distances; Mr H. Kerr, of Tariki, the champion walker, and several noted cyclists may be mentioned in proof of this, and who can say what our lads may yet do if they are given: the proper encouragement ? We understand that plans have been prepared and submitted to the controlling body of the Recreation Grounds for improving the property by raising' the present lawn and giving room for an athletic track ; and further that, the Board rejected the scheme 'because of the alleged despoliation of the grounds, which would result from cutting away a

portion of the hill near the main entrance. Another reason why the members of the Board turned their backs an the suggested improvements was Iwcause they were convinced tluit the grounds were not meant to be subservient to sports, b'lit just to provide healthy recreation for the'public, A groat deal seems to depend on the definition of the word "recreation." We have it that the word means "refreshment after toil, sorrow, etc ; diversion ; amusement ; sport." Very well,

then. If the grounds are for recreation purposes, let us carry it to the full, so that all classes of the community may derive enjoyment from their different forms oE amusement. Sports gatherings properly managed are beneficial to competitors, inasmuch' as t'he training exercise is good for the system. They are good for the spectators, because they provide a little healthy excitement and promote an interest in athletics generally. Sports arc further beneflpial to the tQWfI in which the meeting' jg held from the fact that they are the means of bringing into the pockets of business men a great deal of hard cash which would otherwise have been left in some other portion of the district ; and another thing that must be remembered is that a well-conducted carnival of athletic contests serves a good purpose 'in advertising the possibilities of a town. Let us urge, for these reasons, that the Recreation Board consider the improvement scheme with open mind, in order that the advantages enumerated above will come this way at last. Every little town along the coast has its sports ground. Inglewood, Stratford, and Eltham have tak' : n much more trouble than New Plymouth to cater for the athl-ji.es, ■and for those >yho take an interestin foot and cycle racing, So has Hawera, and so has Manala. It is true that none of these places can compare with us in the matter of the splendid terraces, from which to witness races or 'games, but that is only another reason why New Plymouth should be in the van instead of taking & Jjapif goat in matters athletic. Talking of gamps, introduces another aspect, Representative football matches have so long been held in New Plymouth that it

never seems to enter the heads of local people that there is a possibility of these toeing played in any other centre. But we venture to say that this will eventuate—that if a propei- ground, available in wet or fine weather, is constructed in Stratford, rep. matches will be played there. And we can further state that there is now a scheme afoot to purchase several acres of land and construct not only a football ground for Stratford, 'but also an up-to-date banked cycling track, and a running track. And when progressive Stratford goes on with the idea where will we be in the matter of big fixtures ? Right away in the rear. So let us wake up," and take the place we ought to occupy as the capital town of the provincial districts. And if the Board will not aet in this matter, ore there no enthusiasts here who will invest their moiiTf if W n Ck ° f land for this Purpose. If it will pay in Stratford, and we are assured that it will, the scheme would be still more profitable here where we have the sea as an additional attraction to inland dwellers We hope to see something done" in this matter.