TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13232, 28 September 1908, Page 7

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."

Sir, —In your issue of Thursday there appears what is termed a "comparison" mado by Mr J. H. Aitken, hon. secretary of the United Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, of the rentals paid by tho different sports for their grounds at Hazier Park. Your paoer states: — •'From figures preparedly Mr Aitken it appears that tennis pays £20 for four aero«. equivalent to £5 ncr acre; crirket (Christ's College), £3i> for eight ucT»s, £3 l-js an acre; Cricket (United), £10 for 12 acres, £3 6s an acre; football, £G-j for 39 acres, £1 13s an acre; hockey. £51 for 34 acres, £1 10s an acre; and golf £15 for GO acres, 5s an aero." Mr Aitken criticises the action of the Domain Board, the main feature being in tlie direction of showing that tho golf club and the polo club were paying k-ss proportionately than the cricket and {emits clubs. It appears to one from a closer "comparison" of the figures, that this phase of the matter is entirely reversed, and that tho cricket and tennis clubs are. far and away the best treated by the Board from a reve-nue-producing noint of view in respect of the grounds they occupy. In the first place, the cricket and tennis grounds aro enclosed, and are held by their resnectiv© clubs for tho whole season, and thereby debar tho Hoard from obtaining any further revenno from the letting of same in tho winter months for hockey or football purposes, or for the depasturing of sheep. I am sure that tho Board would roadilv decrease the increased rental of the cricket ground if the club renting same would allow such ground to be leased for football and hockey games during the winter season, and also allow tho sheep to depasture thereon. All other grounds than tho cricket and tennis are in the open parks, and aro subject to tho depasturing of sheep, and aro only held for six months. We must, therefore, in fairness remember that tho total rentals paid by tho cricket and tennis clubs are for the full year, and, by way of comparison with half-year grounds, tho table of rentals works out as follows: — HalfAcres, year. Per acre. £ £ b. d. Golf giccn. IS Bolee couko) say .. CJ. 13 6 0 0 Polo .. ..7 13 2 3 0 Tennis, 4 acres tved roadway (fay) 1 aero ..5" 10 3 0 0 Cbri-fs Colie-gu Cricket 8 13 1 17 fi Ur..v,rd Orickot .. V. 20 1 16 S FoofbeJl .. ..3 5 1 13 4 Hockey ' .. ..2 3 110 0 From the rentals of the cricket and tennis clubs must bo deducted a loss of about £1 5s each half-year, by reason di the fact that such grounds aro enclosed and sheep not allowed to depasture thereon. From a snorts' revenue comparison point of viow the cricket and tennis grounds are, therefore, worth to the Board the following rentals per aero for each half year:— £ ». d. TJ-iitcd Cricket .. .. 0 11 6 Christ's College Cricket .. 012 c Tennis .. .. ..100 As Against the Opsn Grounds. £ b. d. Golf .. .. ..600 Po!o .. .. ..230 PcetbaJl .. .. .; 113 4 Hockey .. .. .. 110 0 Why are the cricket and tennis clubs let down so lightly, whilst the golf and polo clubs pay such glaring higher rates ? ' Evidently tho polo players and the golfites are friendless so far as tho members of tho Board aro concerned. When it is all said and done, the Park belongs to the public of Canterbury, that is to say, the "great public," ana the members of the Domains Board are the trustees for the public, and when transacting financial business for the public must do so on an equitable basis, and treat all alike. Thero is no valid reason why tho club that elects to play at tho park should be treated on better terms than the club that has to buy or lease private grounds for similar purposes at, say, Eichmond, Linwoodj or Riccarton.

Jf the matter is again considered by the Board, it will be lacking in fairness if it does not raise the rentals of tho cricket and tennis grounds to a par with tho golf, polo, football and hockey grounds, and thus allow tho "public , * , to come into "their own." Mr Aitken also states that the polo ground was kept exclusively for that snort. For tho information of Mr Aitken and your readers, it is quite safe to state that the polo ground is used during the winter months for hockey purposes, and sheep depasture there throughout the whole "year.—Yours, etc., •' "FURTHER COMPARISON."

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."

Sir, —If it is true that the Bowling and Tonnis Club has no grievance- as to the rent of their grounds, why was the hon. secretary, Mr Aitken, so anxious to point out that the Polo and Golf Clubs were in his opinion charged a very low rent, and why should bo have- feared that anyone could possibly think (all things being equal) hie club was paying n seemingly inadequate rent per aero? But things are not equal; all other clubs only use their ground for half the year, whereas tho Bowling and Tenuis Club occupy their ground the whole year round, elo.se tho gates on Sunday. a,nd have their grounds closely fenced. If it is right for tho Bowling Club to take eteps necessary to protect their property, why should not other clubs do likewise? I cannot sco why this club should close its gates at all, when situated in a public park, and think it a decidedly dangerous precedent to establish. Considering the advantages obtained by this club, a good many people think they aro paying a vory inadequate rent indeed, and are not surprised the club has no grievance. —Yours, etc., FAIR PLAY. P.S.—The seats and banks around tho greens and lawns belonging to this club would make a charming resting place for tired citizens, especially if the bands were permitted by tho Domain Board , to play there on Sunday.