INTERESTS OF YOUTH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20742, 28 February 1939, Page 6

INTERESTS OF YOUTH

HINEMOA PARK STADIUM SHORTAGE OF PLAYING AREAS MR W. FRASER’S MEWS That the schools in Hamilton might find themselves jostled out of Hinemoa Park, and the sporting interests of the rising generation thereby Jeopardised unless headmasters and school authorities watched the situation very closely, was the opinion of Mr \V. Fraser, principal of the Hamilton Technical College, when asked by a W aikato Times representative to comment on the proposal for the erection of a sports stadium on liinemoa Park. “ As regards the proposal to build a stadium on Hinemoa Park there is. in my opinion, one aspect of the matter that has been overlooked. I refer to the 'loss of playing areas which would be entailed. The park at present provides three playing areas but owing to its peculiar shape the ereotion of a large stadium would reduoe these to one. This is a consideration which merits the attention of the various school authority's and headmasters within the borough,” said Mr Fraser, who went on to remark that in general Hamilton schools were not particularly well provided for In the matter of grounds and Hinemoa Park was an admirable centre on which all th* schools could congregate. History of Hinemoa Park “ One might well ask why certain sports bodies 6eem to regard themselves as having a pre-emptive right in this matter,” said Mr Fraser. “ For instance, the Athletic Club is a very active body and is to ho commended for its initiative in its own Interests but the question arises whether the interests of the Athletic Club should outweigh those of the much larger number of school children in the town. The history of Hinemoa Park over the last few years discloses that In 1932 the Domain Board most generously set apart the park as a sports ground for the use of the primary and secondary schools of Hamilton. The grounds committee set up at that time was immediately assailed by the various sports bodies wishing to get on the park, the Athletic Club Jn particular being mo6t insistent.*’ Improvements at Perk Mr Fraser went on to say that the grounds committee approached various bodies Including government departments and the Hamilton Borough Council with a view to securing their co-operation to improve the park. “ When it was found that the grounds committee could not raise sufficient funds to finance the necessary improvements the Athletic Club temporarily ceased negotiations. Later on, however, another application supported by the grounds committee was made to the Borough Council and this time support was forthcoming from the Domain Board and the Borough Council and the park was put in order. “ Now apparently the interest of the schools has been entirely dropped and according to an interview appearing in Saturday’s Times the Athletic Club characterises Hinemoa Park as

‘ our ground.’ When the primary and secondary schools of Hamilton are so notably short of grounds are they going to allow themselves to be Jostled out of the Hinemoa Park playing areas in this summary fashion? ’’ concluded Mr Fraser.