CONTROL OF DOMAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 93, 12 February 1947, Page 5

CONTROL OF DOMAIN

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION APPROACH TO BOARD Arising from a requisition from the Health Inspector, to enforce the Camping Ground Regulations with respect to the Borough Motor Camp, the council last Monday discussed the prospect of having the whole of the Domain brought under its control. The Inspector submitted a report showing the minmum requirements necessary before the camping ground could be licensed.

The estimate of the Foreman Engineer as to works required to be carried out was £IOOO-£I2OO.

The Deputy Mayor (Cr Shapley) said he realised that the Board had come in for a lot of criticism for the lack of facilities on the grounds. The position was however, that the Board had proceeded just as far as it was able to, with its limited finances. The Board had a plan of development but was incapable of handling it for the same reason| There was as a result a popular clamour for more facilities than the Board was capable of giving, and he for one felt that the Council could handle the Domain much better. *;#^[ Cr Canning expressed surprise that so little financial assistance was forthcoming from the sports bodies which regularly used the grounds. The Bowling, Croquet and Golf Clubs supplied their own grounds and maintained them. Surely the sports bodies should help themselves, by making a levy to the Board. The Football Union used the grounds and gave nothing.

- Cr Sullivan recalled the time when the grounds were under the control of the Council, and were released to the Board on the petition of the sports bodies, who considered that they would get better facilities if the Board were created. He did not think the Board would look to the sports bodies for a substantial sum towards the grounds, but he did feel that it was unfair to expect the ratepayers .to shoulder the whole of the burden. The time had arrived for the Council to take over and by expending £2OO, £3OO or £4OO to bring the area into a better state of development than it was today. The sports bodies should be called together and some agreement reached as to a specific basis of contribution.

The Mayor: We have written away to other local bodies administrating similar grounds for information.

Cr Warren thought the Council should take over the whole of the waterside, domain and park areas in the Borough and develop them. He did not think they should look to the sports bodies for much aswith little to give in any case, Most of the players were young men with little to give in this connection, and furthermore their training in athletics and games was a responsibility for the ratepayers to shoulder. Most of these young men had gone overseas for service in the armed forces, incidentally sixty cricketers from this area were numbered in the first three echelons.

Cr Spring said his sizing up of the present position was that it was futile for the Domain Board to try and develop the grounds under the existing circumstances. It simply could not be done. The sports bodies could not give donations and the only way was by levy. The duty of the Council was to see that the domain was developed as it was an asset to the whole community. The Mayor agreed warmly, maintaining that it was the Council's responsibility. He felt that the Board would be only too glad to hand the grounds over and that the public would be quickly appreciative of the better service the Council would be able to give. It was decided to write the Board making an initial approach regarding the desirability of taking over control, and also to the Internal Affairs Department requesting the necessary line of procedure.