A DESERVING INSTITUTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8029, 16 January 1906, Page 2

A DESERVING INSTITUTION.

NEW PLYMOUTH KECKEATION GROUNDS. We very much regret that tlie meeting of ladies called by the Mayoress on Wednesday last with a view of arranging a floral fete in aid of the funds of the Board was so very poorly attended, the result being that the few who did attend were quite disheartened, and have abandoned the proposal. This lack of interest is very much to bo regretted, and is not creditable to the inhabitants of'tlu! town. Those ladies who attended the meeting did so with the simple and laudable object of trying to assist the Board to keep in order a beauty spot second to none in the colony. Tlie Board has an overdraft of some .•".70, for which the members of the Joard arc personally liable, and we do not think it is fair or reasonable that the members should be called upon to do this, considering the grounds are for the public henelit. The only certain revenue received ! by the Board is an annual subsidy of ', £IOO from the Borough Council. Oulp side this the Board has to scrape np what it can from annual subscribers . and voluntary donations,, [ It is absolutely necessary, to keep j the grounds in good order, to employ two men, who receive very poor wages, and it would not be to the credit of the i town if the Board were compelled » through want of funds to discharge t these men. i' Last year the Board succeeded in i! obtaining sonic eighty animal subis scriptions of 10s each. We trust that I when the time again conies round for I the annual subscriptions to he paid ■ that at least 200 subscribers will be obtained. To sum up, the whole epics- „ tion amounts to this—that if the Board is unable through lack of public lull tcrest to maintain the grounds, they , will be compiled to discharge the men, and the grounds will then gel ? into a neglected and disgraceful slate. ' JJO'ir readers must not confuse th( l * e.forts now being made to raise funib '| by the sports committee for the im l f proveinent of the sports ground witl '■ the funds received by the Board, as it l r is au entirely separate fund. Tlu } ' £I3OO which the amalgamated sporti I committee is now endeavouring t( J ; raise for the draining and iilliug in 0" the grounds for footbif 1, etc., will no s ' go into the ordinary funds of tin ft Rnnivl