THE RECRAETION GROUNDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 162, 3 August 1909, Page 3

THE RECRAETION GROUNDS

MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES. "APIECE OF BLUFF." £? «* Xew Plymom,, KocH.at lon OronuA, was held las! lat the Town Hall. There were presentMessrs h. Cock (chairman), W. L. Newman Harris Ford, R. C.l uHa.s (uul £esh and Messrs G Tisch (^0 -L. ttaikms and F. C. Bellringer reand t. H. tribe (secretary). STATUS OF MEMBERS. !

Upon the reading of the minutes, Mr. ringer noticed the omission „,' the tact that he had given notice at last mee ,ng to move at this meeting to tilt e'C i St ,' l " l,on , of tlle teat he had been ruled out of order He asked that the secretary read the resolution of the Board admitti, tie Councds debates to sit witS : ,nSttrlh;it! okwasnOtS,lfe '^'|

in J w'hiel, S 1 1 1 ' r r' UC ' t ' 11 ""■ "'■'fi'-ual letter n which Mr. (.jovctt, chairman of the Board in 1003, forwarded the follow n , '■Tint Ti,* 0 2* Borou * h Co»»°» ~ ihwe of ti, T h C °" ,,cil "PNnl ■o fir wit. ~ m' , ' 'r t0 ' U with'ami Cil wn! Ta- ''T rs wr tl>''nit-i»b"r S / S iio 1 tn V itlr' standing that the Taranaki liota,, c A t does not provide for more than e" memhers of the Board." The chairman still ruled that Mr Bellringer could not legally move in ? 6 B l ard > for the Government leeognised only the duly appointed

.w l^;,? 9 thal r^l«tio» is just a bit of hluir on the part of the Board, was it? The chairman said that the 'term could hardly be applied. But it must he plainly evident that there was some business which could be initiated only by the trustees. The Council's delegates had a full voice in the control of the grounds, and could vote on matters such as the expenditure of moneys in the,, upkeep, and so on. No vote on these matters could be objectionable to the trustees, but when they attempted ;i„f w.S e c ° nst,tution IIE »«* con-

LS,? I '™? e iV? id that of cours * «>e alteration might be made upon a petition of the ratepayers. I Tf^r 6 c^ ai ,™ an saf( l that that was so. fLu ' "?#* wanted the constitution altered, he could put it before the S ' to second a motion ,f jfr Bellringer would move it, tliat a legal opinion be obtained to decide the standing of the delegates. He had not desire to baulk the Council's fw S i i'l ? y Wa - V '. a,ld that he had always advocated the system of municipal representation when he was a borough councillor himself. ' would .°"cr no objection to bavin* the governing Act amended so that thS number of members be increased to ten, three of whom should be delegates from the Borough Council

NEED FOR NEW BLOOD.

*i I" t ? '5 nger sald lle was convinced that the Board should take some steps to get more in touch with the people, particularly those younger people whose .nteres't and assistance would benefit the funds. At present these people held Bo 0 a D Tdas-^ SeemedtOlook U P°» the cfl airman (interjecting): Fossil-

Mr. Bel ringer: Hardlv that. But he recognised that a new order of things was dawning in x„ w Plymouth, and tifre were young people m liom the Board would do well to interest h the grounds • Cr. Bellringer added that he knewof several citizens who were working with tne Borough Council's representatives on the Baths and Western Park committees.

The chairman vigorously defended the Xew Plymouth's grounds with Welli n „- lons indicated that there had been more pounds spent here than shillings m Wei ington It was a dirtv-lookin-Place, full of furze, and broom, and tit«e, and rubbish. There were del there similar t„ those which had been made so beautiful in our grounds. Wto •tad done .11 that Aere! Why, the old ■

.er s then SeW " la " : '""* were mue " .r°u»g-

t„ M n„«f' rh,g M s,,i '' lu? h,uJ » ot mea "t to question the work done bv the T^— vedal,

The chairman said he was nuite •■ware that many of the paths «"re ™T\J nd '! e felt thal thp Boar(l «as not getting t l,e work that it should for- its expenditure. The,- had an excellent curator in Mr. Smith, a\horouguly practical man. who had done excellent work in the grounds, particularly ,n beautifying the Gilbert street entrance. But it seemed to him that he Board could with a little more Ztl IT' '?• tk ' " mmh - Tllc Paths ■lecded attending to. He was pleased to announce that Mr. Honnor had offer .1 twenty loads of blacksmith's ash for the paths, and to have it carted. sint tl" T"' / Urtl " ,r irr elevant discussion, the Board passed on to other busi-

"THE MAGISTRATE." T„ Jlr ' reported that the New Ilymouth amateurs had consented to put on '-The .Magistrate" on Wednesday m aid of the Board's funds. Thevwer'e now rehearsing, and intended to put 011 the piece as well as ever. .

Members volunteered their services as ushers, .ticket-collectors, and so on, the chairman and secretary to occupy the ticket box. *•

It was decided that the proceeds of the performance be placed in a separate fund for the relief of the unemployed. FINANCE. The secretary reported that he had leceived from the late chairman, Mr. Lorkill, ; , list of the Hoard's sections which were leased to different persons, the total revenue being £49 7 6 Cd. He estimated that the Board's annual revenue would be £230 (inclusive of borough subsidy £l5O, sports ground rental £25, rents £4!) 7s Od). At present the Board owed the bank £9O 19s, and there were outstanding accounts amounting to about £IOO.

The chairman pointed out that the wages of the curator and his assistant absorbed the borough subsidy and the rents, and on top of that there was bird food to be bought, and sundry expenses. The Board had, of course,'additional prospective revenue in fireworks displays. MORE PUBLICITY. It was decided to admit' the Press to the Board's meetings in future, the Mayor remarking that if the Hoard wanted public support they must let the people know what they were doing. Hie day had gone past for "star chamber sort of business."