THE RACECOURSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1920, Page 4

THE RACECOURSE.

THE QUESTION OF CONTROL. JOCKEY CLUB HAS AIJ, BIGHTS. 1 ■•" " ' .J-", ■ ■ AN INTERESTING OPINION. The negotiations between the New Plymouth Borough Council and the Tarannki Jockey Club took an interesting turn, at the meeting of the Borough Council last night, when att,Opinion V»as redd from the Borough soiiciitots whjch, in plain terms, practically means that the control of the racecourse is in the hands of the Jockey Club and Jiot the 'Borough Council. > The Jockey Club contemplate an extensive scheme of improvements, involving an expenditure of £70,000, afld last week a deputation waited the Borough Council requesting, amongst other things, the right to extend the width of the racecourse track, and asking the Borough Council to restrain sports clubs from erecting buildings inBide the course.' In making these requests it waß assumed that the Borougli Council had the right to grant or Refuse these concessions, and it was in order to clear up the position that the Council sought its solicitors', opinion. This. was a somewhat lengthy doou« ment of a technical nature, but it clttr< ly established that it' waa the Joiotey Club, and not the Council, who had the giving or the refusal of su4h concessions. It explained that the deflhi|lon racecourse di.d not necessarily iftian simply'the actual race tfack, thus leaving a reserve within the track to be administered by the Council as a xeaerve, but the term racecourse implied all the> - land embraced by the actual track, a&d also \ all that land required for the club's appointments. The position was, therefore, that the Jockey Club hid itself the right to extend its- track, and also right to restrain-aftynne from ' erecting-buildings within the track. The Mayor, said that In view, of this opinion the Council could do . Nothing further in the matter. He njpved s»£' the Council should send a copy of thfe solicitors' opinion to tlje Jockey Club, • pointing out that the opinion gave the club all the rights which it asked from the Council, with the exception of the number of days of racings which is a matter. outside the province of the Council.

The Mayor pointed out that this opinion must stand unless anyone gave an opinion to the contrary. The (ftly other solution was a teit case to settle the matter, and it was in the fiiuidg of any sports body who erected > building inside the course to fight the Jockey Club on the question of the, right of a building to be there, As far as the Council was concerned, the handing of this opinion, to the Jockey Club ended the matter. "I must say frankly that I am surprised at the opinion, but there it stands," added the Mayor, The motion was carried.