TO PROMOTE FITNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 12

TO PROMOTE FITNESS.

PUKEKOHE PROPOSAL

GYMNASIUM AND SPORTS CENTRE,

The Pukckohe centennial committee has endorsed a suggestion that a gymnasium and sports centre at Bledisloe Park should be set up for Pukekohe's centennial memorial.

Several suggestions, including the construction of a sports stadium north of and adjoining the Soldiers' Memorial Park, a 12-bed cottage hospital and an ambulance station, were made. The two first-mentioned were considered to be too costly, while an ambulance depot, it was pointed out, could be incorporated in the gymnasium at Bledisloe Park v . The proposed building, it was considered, could be erected for between £2000 and £3000.

The proposal will be placed for ratification before the Franklin zone executive, which meets next week. In the event of the suggestion being approved, a sub-committee, Messrs. C. F.' Blanchard, W. J. Short, 8. Andrew and C. H. Jemison, was appointed to cooperate with the Mayor, Mr. John Routly, in the preparation of plans. A suggested schedule of celebrations for Pukekohe during the centennial year, 1940, has been drawn up by the Pukekohe committee and will be submitted to the Franklin executive for approval. The profits are to be devoted to the proposed memorial gymnasium. The programme will be spread over six months and will include two five-day periods devoted to sporting activ'ties. It will begin on Sunday, January 2S, 1940, and will continue until September 7.

Subject to a permit being granted, an art union, with a. motor car as first prize, will be conducted.