HAGLEY PARK RENTALS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13230, 25 September 1908, Page 7

HAGLEY PARK RENTALS.

STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF DOMAIN BOARD.

When interviewed by a repreaentaj.tive of "The Press , in regard to tho I criticisms which had been levelled I against tho Domain Board in regard to I the rentals charged the various sports I bodies for the use of Hagley Park, Mr IH. J. Beswick, chairman of the Domain Board, stated that a good deal of the information published nad been misleading,, "ii'or instance," said Mr Beswick, "'soino reference ■ had been made to the golf and polo people being leniently treated. As a matter of fact the area that the Polo Club is put down as occupying is absolutely mcorreot. It was pointed out at the last meeting of the Domain Board that tho polo grounds have ouiy an area of seven acres; whereas it lias been stated the area is twenty acres. With regard to the go It people, the club has to take its ground suoject to all the other grounds being occupied by the hockey and football players, and therefore has the last choice. " Speaking of the remarks made by Mr Aitken, 1 may say his club is the only one which has not had its rent raised. When the United. Club Applied to the Domain Board soino three years ago lor the ground, rt was proposed to cnarge £35, and the club astced that the amount be reduced, representing that it was being put.to a very heavy expenditure in erecting buildings and effecting other improvements. The Board tiien consented to reduce the amount to £20 and gave.,the club to understand that thu rental would not be raised for three years. Tho club, acting on the understanding that the rent was to bo £20, 'greeted a pavilion, and has, therefore, ! no ground- whatever for complaint. The whole matter has been gone into very carefully by the committee appointed , By the Domain Board, and the rents have been fixed on an absolutely equitable basis, all the circumstances having been taken into consideration. Probably if tho scale, of rentals were analysed it would be found that the increase does not amount to a shilling a head for the people who use the Park for various sports. The Board has beon in a struggling condition for years, and is urgently in need of increased revenue. InVfact, the simple ! answer to the whole agitation is that if any dub is not satisfied with .the rental asked, it can obtain another ground, and the ground it has abandoned ■■ will be hlled by one of the numerous applicants for sites in tho park." v '■" . • .;'■*.■■■''■'::■■■''.■.> . ".. ~ Tho secretary of tho Domain Board desires to correct statement of Mr J. H. Aitken in regard to the areas of the Polo and United ;i Cricket Chibs' grounds in Hagley park. Mr Kighton stages that the Polo Club uses only seven acres, and not v 2o, as stated by Mr Aitken, which would make the: rent over £2' per acre, -while the -area used by-the United Cricket Club ia only 11 acres, and not 12. It may be added . that Mr Aitken explains that ; .the figures quoted by him '■ were taken>from ; the report of the Executive Committee ■ to the Domain. Board, which .was a type-written document,; and "was pub-' ; liflhed as.'giiren..;.--:".■;•••■-■ ;; -; -:>. •■•;.; ; y>, '■■-■■:: >."]'/■ '\' '■. ' -.'■ TO THE EDITOB OlP'-.."»H« ; ;'»«SS>'';'.-:';'-: ; .''-i-;..;.-Sirj—The remarks, of Mr 'Aitken; secretary. , of the United■ BowJdng and Tennis Club re rants in the Park seem to mc very uncalled; for, .'as' iiiis dixb is the only one thai? has beens : allowed to fence im the ground "On any other part of the Park I can 'still walk aroundjVbut., 1 ' caih V <>iiiy^-; look, through ■■ a wire fence at bowling or tennis. been, allowed to be fenced at all/ ia it ; is "a ; publio ' Park, and for this privilege, the; club seems'very, lightly rcharged\indeed, ■; I s baye>an' idea that I ! have ; .seen hockey clubs playing on the. polo ground rail the winter.' But who > can i use any .part of the : Tennis or Bowling Club's ground winter or summer except members.—Yours, etc., SENBX.