RECREATION SPORTS GROUND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 258, 24 October 1908, Page 6

RECREATION SPORTS GROUND

A QUESTION OI* 1 AUTHORITY. A special meeting oi Che above .Board was Held yesteruay afternoon, w.ii -n there wore present:—Messrs. K 1\ t'orkiii (in the chair), W. L. Newman, S. Percy Smith, 1-'. liellringer, K. (J. llughes and 41. Kord.

An apology for absence was received from tne Mayor (Mr. U. Tisch). The chairman stated tttat He liad called tiic .Board together in consequence the appearance hi the local papers of an announcement that a "mass meeting/' the object of which was not stated, would be held in tie .Sports (iround on Sunday next. Some days ago Mr. O. E. liellrjnger had seen him oil behalf of tile No-licensu League, who desired to hold a public meeting in the Park on Sunday next, and he (the chairman) had informed -Mr. lJellringer that the trustees were averse to the holding of such gatherings in the Park on tile Sabbath, and had consistently refused all such applications for nnriy years past. Since seeing the advertisement that day hv> had made enquiry | and found that- the Xo-]ieense League had obtained tlie permission of the : Sports (.iround Committee, who were not. very clear about their power to dsal with such applications. Mr. Goodaciv attended on behalf of the No-license League, and explained what he and his friends had done. Similar gatherings had been heht m Uie Parks at Stratford, Kltham and flawera, and he saw no reason why tiny should not use the public grounds here. The chairman .pointed out Inat tho conditions were altogether different, the New Plymouth Botanical (iardens h.ing vested in a Board of Trustees, by a special Act of Parliament, and were subject, to by-laws, one of which expressly provided that no public meeting or assemblage for any purpose shouM be held without (permission in writing from the JJoard. Mr. Goodacre said that the No-liccnsc League would take care to prevent any damage or indecent conduct, and would, if the Board thought necessary, obtain the aid of the police.

Aftur Mr Oomlacre had retired it wao unanimously resolved: "That the ?ports Ground Committee having in good faith, but without authority, granted permission to the No-license League to hold a public meeting in the Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon •next, the Board will allow the. meeting to take place, on the express understanding that similar facilities be permitted the licensed victuallers should they aipply for same, and that ill -so two cases ibe not regarded as a precedent to the prejudice of the trustees" powers under the Act in their byciaws,'