SPORTS GROUND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 271, 8 April 1913, Page 8

SPORTS GROUND.

COMMITTEE AXD BOARD CONFER. Messrs. Humphries, J. Clarke, McLeod and Whittle attended at last night's meeting of the Pukekura Park Board, 011 behalf of the Sports Ground Committee, and discussed witii the Board the state of the ground.

Mr. Govett mentioned the amount of rent owing, £OO, and the fact that the flagstaff had not been re-erected, and said that there was apparently a lack of interest on the part of the Sports Committee, and if tliev did not intend to make use of the ground, other bodies would come forward and take the ground over. Mr. Ford said that a piece of the terraces had slipped away. On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Humphries explained that when they first took over the ground they undertook to spend £BOO. Already they had expended £2OOO. As members, they had all spent a lot of time as well as money, and felt that, when the work was completed, the revenue derived from the | "rounds would keep them in order. They had a scheme on hand which would probably be able to keep the ground in such order that nobody would be able to complain. Mr. McLeod explained that an art union and other methods of getting funds were in hand. The big matches had been split up between other towns in Taranaki. Another reason for public interest falling off in football was the Thursday half-holiday. He did not know the .reason, but sports meetings had gone out of fashion. Mr. Whittle, as the cricket representative, complained of the pine trees on the liill, remarking that Warner's team had adversely commented on the fact that, the shadows they cast interfered with playing. The trees either required tp be topped or cut down. ; jrUe chairman explained that they had practically received no revenue from the qrjqk.eteys for a long time. Yet they were now asking for improvements. After further discussion, a joint meet-ing.,op-the ground was, on Mr. Govett's suggestion, decided upon. Mr, Govett explained that there was no hostility oil the part of the Board. They would be very pleased to meet the supporters of the Sports Ground Committee in every possible way. Tn thanking the Board, Mr. Humphries said that the various difficulties would ,'b'p overcome if both bodies could meet ■in conference several times during the I year.