Bay of Plenty Times SATURDAY, August 6th, 1921. THE DOMAIN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume 49, Issue 7765, 6 August 1921, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times SATURDAY, August 6th, 1921. THE DOMAIN.

li has long been evident that ibe Domain is ail too small to meet even the present day demands of the various sporis bodies for playing grounds. This fact is just now being foicibly emphasised by the request of the bowling club to be given a site .on which to lay down a new green, and the gathering of representatives of various sports bodies on the Domain on Wednesday last to confer with the Board left no doubt that there is a fear on all hands of being crowded out. So far as the particular request of the bowling club is concerned the Board asks the club to submit a plan of that portion of (he domain affected, showing what is needed by the club, and what remains to meet the ■ requirements of other sports. That is quite right so far as it goes, but does it go far enough? It must be as patent to the members of the Board as to everyone else that that which could be turned into an almost ideal football ground is made impossible by the tennis courts. It is very easy of course to be wise after (lie event, and jo say that the courts should never have been formed there, but there they are, and the lesson they teach should be taken to heart by the Board, and no further area set apart for any branch of sport, without seriously considering the whole position. There are various odd corners in the Domain useless for, some forms of sport, but admirably suited for others. To prepare a plan of one portiob of the Domain and squeeze on to that area the utmost possible without regard to (he possibilities offered by having in view the whole area, cannot but lead to future regrets. The Board has a very important duty to perform, With a limited area available, it lias to face the problem of providing recreation grounds for a community not yet large enough to enable the devotees of each branch o( sport to find their own grounds. Having this in view the laying out of the Domain should be carefully planned to meet the reasonable needs of the people; The Board cannot do more than this it should certainly not do less. The duty of the Borough Council to seriously take in hand the question of providing a recreation ground has long been evident, but the plaintive cry of “no money’’ goes up continually, without giving the people an oppor-/ I unity of saying whether they are prepared to find it or not.