Borough Council Meeting

Upper Hutt Weekly Review, Volume I, Issue 22, 15 May 1936, Page 1

Borough Council Meeting

Mayor and Councillors working in harmony—a night's good, work Housing Scheme in View Continental Sunday Not "Wanted Reports on Public Halls

UPPER HUTT BOROUGH. COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council -was held on Monday evening last, the Mayor (Mr. A. J. McCurdy), presiding. Also present: Councillors Keys (Deputy-Mayor), Howell, Purvis, Blewman, Greig, Baskett, Guthrie and the Town Clerk, Mr. R. C. Major. An apology was accepted from Councillor Sutherland. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter -was received from the Upper Hutt Fire Brig-ade thanking the Council for its assistance in arranging to send a team to the competitors at Hastings. The Mayor moved: "That the Council congratulate the brigade on its showing at the competitions; this was seconded by Councillor Greig, who also mentioned a very quick turn out of the brigade to a recent fire early one morning. The Audit Department -wrote stating that in future all rates have to be worked out pro rata, the reason being that a balance on one rate must not make up a deficiency oh another. A suitable reply is to be sent to the Department. A letter was read from the Health Department confirming the agreement reached bet-ween the Council and the Medical Officer of Health, dealing with the Racecourse -well. The letter stated they had no objection to the use of the chlorinated water from the racecourse -well during the summer months, on the understanding that the Council will investigate alternate sources of supply as early as possible. Councillor Greig stated that Dr. McLean met the Council reasonably. He -was confident the Council -would get a fair deal from Dr. McLean. The letter -was received on the motion of Councillor Greig, seconded by Councillor Purvis. REPORTS. The Health Inspector (Mr. Yarnell) reported that three cases of infectious disease had been received and the usual precautions taken. The Custodian of the park asked that those in charge of night training on the park, be requested to turn off the floodlights before leaving. The newly formed hockey team had enquired from him if it

wculd be possible to get permission to practice on the hockey ground whan not in use by the ladies. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Purvis, permission was granted. RESERVES COMMITTEE. Councillor Keys, chairman of the Works Committee, asked permission for some late correspondence to be read at this juncture. The first letter -was received from the Upper Hutt United Football Club, asking- that a floodlight be placed within the vicinity of the Soccer ground for night training. The matter was referred back to the Reserves Committee to report at the next Council meeting. The Upper Hutt Cricket League wrote asking the Reserves Committee to meet their* executive and members to go into matters appertaining to cricket. After discussion this was agreed to. HOCKEY ON SUNDAYS. Several letters were received from various members of the newly formed Ramblers Hockey team, asking permission to play practice matches on Sundays at the Park; the team was prepared to pay up to 3d. per hea€l for the use of such ground. After the letters had been received a discussion took place as to the eligibility of such games on Sundays. The Mayor pointed out that according to the by-law there -was no mention of Sunday -whatsoever dealing with the Park. The only portion of that particular law -was that control of the Park is in the hands of the Custodian, who has a i~ight to prohibit any game that is in his opinion undesirable or unseemly, but this shall not -warrant him interfering with the enjoyment of any persons conducting themselves in a proper and legitimate manner, and the Mayor said he would vote for the playing of such games on Sundays. Councillor Greig: I am going to be consistent and vote against it. Councillor Purvis also stated that he would vote against the playing of such games on Sundays. He -was not yet prepared to see a Continental Sports Sunday introduced to the residents of the Upper Hutt district:

Councillors Baskett, Keys, and Guthrie also stated that they would vote against a sports Sunday. Councillors Howell and Blewman supported the Mayor. Councillor Blewman said that he was going to encourage this new hockey club and give them a lift along. Councillor Keys: I voted against another sports body having the use of the ground on Sundays and am still against it. The Mayor: The by-law does not give the Council any authority to interfere with games being played on grounds set apart for such sport. Councillor Keys: Well, your Worship, you did an injustice to the footballers when you allowed a motion to be passed refusing them the right to play games on Sunday, if you knew that was the by-law. The Mayor: I was not aware of it until I went thoroughly into the matter with the Custodian of the Park on Easter Monday, and saw it in the by-law. Councillor Howell: Are we going to stop cricket on Sundays ? The Mayor: That is not before us at present. Councillor Blewman : No, perhaps not, but it will be coming up before long. Councillor Greig: I respect the opinion of my fellow Councillors, but it is simply that I object to these games on Sundays. The motion was put to the meeting- that permission be granted to play hockey on Sundays at Maidstone Park. It was defeated by 5 votes to 3. It was agreed that providing the ladies' team was not playing on the ground on a Saturday afternoon the Warriors be allowed the use of the ground. BASKETBALL. Councillor Keys asked the Mayor if a ground had been found for the newly formed ladies' basketball team. The Mayor said Mr. Dalton had offered the team one of the tennis courts to play on, but it seemed that they wanted hard courts, but at the present time there was not one in the Park.