FREEMAN'S BAY PARK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 210, 4 September 1900, Page 2

FREEMAN'S BAY PARK.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—There can be no doubt but that the gc-uueuien who have guided the destinies of the Auckland Rugby Union In latter years are deserving of the thanks of all football enthusiasts. The business capability and forethought which has characterised the management has resulted in financial success and been a theme of praise in the sister colonies. At the present time the A.R.U. have close oil £2000 in hand towards the purchase of a ground, so that it may claim to be the wealthiest body of its kind in Australasia. The thought has occurred to me that if the A.K.U. in the course of time purchase a ground of their own the site must necessarily be some considerable distance from town. Now, how would this suit the public, who have the prior right to be studied, for it is they who have contributed that £2000. The inconvenience, loss of time, and expense journeying to and from Potter's Paddock have been a severe tax on a great many, and the means of preventing thousands from witnessing the "king of winter games. Would it not be a step in the right direction for the A.K.U. to endeavour to make arrangements with the City Council for playing their matches on the Freeman's Bay Reserve when properly laid out, securing the right to charge for a number of days in the season? I venture to say that if this idea were carried out quite 10,000 people would be in attendances at cup matches each Saturday, whilst a representative match would easily draw a crowd of nearly twice that number. The question requires careful consideration by the A.R.U. and discussing in a broad-minded spirit. The members of the union should dismiss from their minds any thought that their object is to keep on for ever accumulating public money. The securing of the most central site possible, with the certainty of a sufficient yearly revenue to just more than cover their expenses, is their duty. The money the union have in hand might well be applied in the establishment and equipment of much-need-ed einb-rooms and training-sheds in the various districts where members and their friends might meet and enjoy a few hours' recreation in club-room or gymnasium.

Trusting that the Auckland Rugby Union will be guided by popular sentiment and strain every effort to secure a.ground whe^e record attendances for the rest of the colony at football matches would be an every Saturday afternoon occurrence in fair Aucklann,—l am, etc.,

YOUNG COLONIAL,

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—There is an old saying that a good cause can never be effected without opposition in one form or another. So it is in regard to the proposed Freeman's Bay Tark. Men, apparently for their own pecuniary profit, or on account of a deficiency of foresight, oppose the motion in favour of the proposed park, and offer the most absurd arguments in support of their action. One gentleman actually stated as his reason for opposing the proposed park that the atmosphere would be impure on account of its proximity to the town, and on account of Its nearness to the sea, and proposed thai! the ti-tree three miles from town should be made into a park. Why, his arguments contradict one another. How could the air bo impure if the park were connected with the sea? What better arguments could be offered in its support than those which he offered against it? Its close proximity to the sea would make it a great convenience to picnickers and yachting men as their starting point, and on account of its proximitr to town it could be let out to onr footballers, etc., and in that way would bring into the Council a considerable amount of money. There is no doubt tnat if Freeman's JS/iy is not accepted for the proposed park there will be no park either in the "ti-troe" or elsewhe™-^ c «^g£