Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 28, 23 June 1939, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the pa per? Where a nom-de.plume is -Used the name of the writer must be enclosed for reference purposes only. BASKETBALL FACILITIES Sir,—The, men, and boys, in the Wha ksftane district have been having a good spin in their sports. The girls and young women have for years played their basketball on unsuitable grounds with never an appeal to the public, however, the time has now been reached when it is imperative* that the courts should be in keeping with City courts 'to enable our play, ers to successfully compete with teams having access to good courts. To play thn; game well the great need is good asphalt courts, and lo have a good basketball tournament in Whakatane there should be at least three courts on the Domain. The space is there, and the permission has been granted. However, the cost of approximately £100 per court making the total approximately £30G> is-a fair amount of money to ask the public to provide. But the physical benefits comprise all-round exercise and development, with the enhancing of grace and quickness. All parents are interested in their ■children , -*;"? welfare, and it is reasonable to suppose that every parent would assist financially in helping to promote the children's health by good exercise and recreation. If every par_ ent in Whakatane, Taneatua, Wai. mana, Nukuhou, Onepu y Awakeri, Te Teko, Matata, Paroa and Poroporo (I hope I haven't left any place out) would donate five shillings the Whakatane District Basketball Association would then have enough money to lay down, courts in all these places with three in Whakatane, the logical place to hold a tournament. Again these courts could be used for tennis in the summer and there are no public tennis courts in Whakatane. Every business man or firm would be out of business if it wasn't for the young people. Everyone benefits and everyone can help. Every basketball club can help too r by arranging dances, social evenings, card tournaments etc. Now girls—get busy, and if you practise self-help the public will help also. The W r hakaiane District Basketball Association would be glad to receive donations of money, material and labour assistance to put these courts down. Everyone knows that Whakatane is a sound business town and its people are prosperous. Why not help to make your Domain better by helping, to give the girls decent courts to plaj' on, and let the public and visitors see the finest game in the world played under good conditions. Mr may I appeal through your columns to the citizens. Will you give your help to build up Whakatane by sending your donations to the secre'taries of the clubs in your districts or to Miss Jacombs, secretary. King Street, Mr A. Webb c/o Mr W. Smyth or The Beacon Office. Whakatane. All donations will be acknowledged thi'ough the Beacon. To make a start I will donate five guineas. Yours etc., A. WEBB,, Whakatane District Basket ball Association. (While we are perfectly willing to accede in, the above connection to the use of the paper for so worthy a cause, we would like to direct the attention of our correspondent to the proposal to run a Queen Carnival, which would result in improving the grounds in a comprehensive way. Why not all sports combining in a joint campaign which would go much further than any individual appeals. Ed.) THE DOMAIN Sir, —''Sportsman" writing in your issue of the 16th knows very little of what he is talking about. First ho says that he docs not know who the members of the Domain Board are. This alone shows the little interest he has taken in the Domain in the past. Then he says most of the ievenue deceived by the board is evidently largely spent in the interest of 20 or 30 lifidies who play croquet. This is quite wrong. The croquet clulf have always paid their full quota fixed by the board. More than thi* they find their? own lawn mower and (Continued at foot of neict column)

roller and besides have built their own small pavilion. They raise their own funds among themselves and don't stand at the gates every day looking for donations which by the way is illegal to pay for their i » sport. Besides lawns whero croquet., V is plaj'cd are ahvaj's an asset to any domain. What would our Domain be if it were not for the Croquet Club. I heari that the other sports clubs have never yet* paid their full quota to the board. Shame on them. How can they expect better treatment if they don't help. In-spite of this the board has made a special ground for the footballers. There is a decent way to do things. If sports clubs wfileU; use the Domain, they should •go the board and ask for improvements and not cry and sling off about it. The board has full control of the Domain and it i^:no use rubbing them the wrong -way. They give their time and service free whicfv decent folk of course will respects J^ Yours etc.. ~ . OLp^iSF^fllT^