AMUSEMENTS PARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS PARK.

LEASING OF SITE.

MR. T. BLOODWORTH

ORJECTS

BAD FOR BUSINESS," HE SAYS

''I don't want to be regarded as a wowser, or anything of that sort, but, speaking from a purely economic point of view, I don't think we should lease this land for the purpose of an amusement park that will be permanent for eight years," said Mr. T. Bloodworth at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board, when the question of granting an option on two acres and a-half of land on the eastern reclamation was being considered. It was stated in a report that a syndicate known as the Amusement Park Syndicate, Ltd., had been granted a five years' lease of a block on the reclamation situated between King's Drive and Haig Street. The rental was £2000 pei annum. The syndicate now asked for an option for another five years, but the committee had recommended that an option for three years be granted, at a rental of £4000.

Mr. C. G. Maeindoe doubted if the board was justified in leasing the land for a period of eight years. They should consider it very closely. While he fully endorsed the action of the board and realised that it would be a foolish policy to allow the land to remain idle, he thought the board should consider the question of the enhanced value of the block five years hence.

Mr. T. Bloodworth thought it was not a proper place for an amusements park. The board should consider the effect of its actions on the remainder of the city. An amusements park, with hurdygurdies and scenic railways, situated right at the entrance to the city, could not do other than have a damaging effect on the businesses of the city. Money would be diverted from regular business channels. While some verylarge cities, such as Melbourne, had their amusements parks, he did not know of any city tie size of Auckland that had such a park permanently established. It had been the experience of the Dunedin people during the exhibition that the effect of the attractions now to be brought to Auckland was anything but good. Many Auckland people did not know that this syndicate intended bringing up all the hurdygurdies and side shows from Dunedin in order to "plonk" them down at the very entrance to the city. Here was a proposition to establish a stimulus to visit Auckland. The city could well do with such a stimulus for a short period, when many country folk might be induced to come to town. To establish a permanent park for eight years was quite another matter.

"The evil of it is that, for almost one generation, the children of Auckland will grow up in the environment of an amusements park, open on six days of the week. This sort of thing, going on day in and day out, can only be harmful," said Mr. Bloodworth. "I think there is an opening for something of the kind during the summer, but it should be located away from the business area, perhaps on one of the islands down the gulf, where people would find it a little difficult to reach." A member: Pakatoa: (Laughter.) In conclusion, Mr. Bloodworth reiterated his statement that he thought the presence of the amusements park would have a harmful effect on the established businesses of the city.

Unless there were strong reasons against it, the board would be very ill advised not to lease tir land, said Mr. M. H. Wynyard. He did not think that such a park would react adversely on the morals of the town. It would certainly attract numbers of people to Auckland. In any case, the land was being leased out under strict conditions. Mx. Campbell Johnstone thought there was a good bit of truth in what Mr. Bloodworth had said. The park would do more harm than good. Mr. E. W. Inder remarked that the board had come to the conclusion a short time ago that it could not set itself up as a judge or a censor of public morals. The board had picture theatres, billiard saloons and hotels on its properties, so why should it take exception to an amusements park, especially when an assurance had been given that there were not going to be rolldowns or roll-ups, or anything of that kind? Until the board had some idea of the hind's ultimate value, it was quite justifiable to take the action proposed.

The chairman (Mr. H. R. Mackenzie) said that even if the board were to refuse the syndicate the land it would not stop theiii from coming. They would merely obtain a site from someone else.

Mr. Johnetone asked if the scenic railways and things were going to run all night.

The Chairman: Oh, no. Nothing of that sort. They will probably stop at half-past ten or eleven o'clock. Mr. Bloodworth: Is this land in the city area? The Chairman: It is not now, but it will be when it is leased. Mr. Bloodworth: Then it will be useless to the syndicate, as nothing but brick buildings can be put on it! The superintendent said the land would be in the city, but outside the brick area.

It was decided to grant an option in respect of a three years' lease, after the expiry of the five already granted. at a rental of £4000 per annum. Mr. Blooiiivorth recorded his vote against the decision.