OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1939, Page 3

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

SOUTH (To the Editor.) Sir, — Anticipating our Borough Council’s quite possible reassuming control of the very splendid property it originally purchased in 1926, in a virgin state far removed from the wonderful children’s play area South Park (under separate citizen control) shines forth today, may an ordinary layman be permitted in your columns to express a word or two of appreciation, if not admiration for the outstanding services rendered the residents of South Masterton in particular (and our community generally) by Mr F. E. J. Ractliffe, the retiring patron of the South Park Society, to whose patrimony, as well as personal laborious supervision since its inception as a children’s playground, can chiefly be attributed the marvellous state of not unbeautiful perfection we find it in today. Under still operative Government agreement to fully provide the labour cost commitments of all local authorities in the matter of all parks and reserves improvements, a splendid further opportunity seemingly presents itself to, our progressive Mayor and councillors to even extend, for general public benefit, the purse-limited but high ideals of the society which now calls upon them to assume civic control of a “Children's Mecca” second to none (as far as outdoor gymnasia equipment is concerned) in this or any other part of the Wairarapa, since first its patron and co-operative committee workers ventured to assume responsibility in making South Park the wonderful asset we find it today compared with its virgin state in 1926, the year a similarly progressive-minded council purchased its wide and level area on public behalf. If only for its patron’s magnificently ornamental and quite costly provision its extensive High Street brick walls and iron gateway entrance, which challenges chief attention of touring traffic north and south, the society’s parting wish to see the name of “Ractliffe” become even more permanently name-associated with this fine juvenile playing area, is a fitting one. Even more so, by reason of this gentleman’s twelve years of personal labour,, as well as personal supervision, chiefly accounting for long continuous state of high perfection generally. The Pownall Memorial gateway entrance to our main town Park recalls the past memory of a progressive and worthy Mayor, and a similar filigreed tribute surmounting South Park gateway, should as fittingly adorn it, in living witness of a private citizen who has rendered an equal period of demoted service to this our picturesque town which has its Allen Bridge, as well, to testify to its civic recognition of private services of outstanding renown. —I am, etc., N.J.B.

Masterton, May 14.