A FREE PARK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3066, 10 December 1908, Page 4

A FREE PARK.

MOTION BEFORE THE BOROUGH

COUNCIL.

APPLICATION TO CHARGE FOR ADMISSION REFUSED.

The Committee of St. Matthew's; New Church Fund applied to the Masterton Borough Council last: evening for permission to use the Park on Thursday, February 11th,. for the purpose of holding a garden party in aid of the New Church Fund. The Committee desired to make a charge for admission to the Park both in the afternoon and evening.

A motion was moved by the Mayor, seconded by Cr Elliott, that application be granted on the usual terms, viz., the payment of £lO for the use of the Park.

Cr Ewington said he was going to oppose the motion. He thought thetime had passed when the Park should be closed to the people for the sake of the Council making £lO. A lot' of money had been spent on the Park,! and it was greatly used now. In addition the many swimmers whoused the Park Lake had to be considered. Cr Ewington thought that it was quite wrovig to close up 50acres of public reserve from the general public. The Council had decided to allow the St. Patrick's Sports Association to use the Park and it must now abide by that decision, but he proposed to object toany further agreements of the kind:

Cr Pauling said he would support Cr Ewington if he moved a iiirectmotion to that effect. No amendment was moved, and the Mayor put his motion, that the application bagranted. When he called for "'Ayes" there was no response, and on< "Noes" being invited several wereheard. The Mayor declared the motion lost, but said he thought scant courtesy had been shown the chair* No one had voted for th2 motion and yet no reasons were advanced against it except by one Councillor. Cr Elliott rose to make a statement,. 1 but the Mayor declined to aliow any discussion after the motion had been> dealt with.