LANCASTER PARK.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13986, 8 March 1911, Page 9

LANCASTER PARK.

THE PROPOSED PURCHASE BY

THE CITY,

Tlio proposal that the City Council should purchase Lancaster Park is causing some discussion in athletic circles, particularly among the players and followers of cricket and football.

Speaking to a representative of "Tho Press," a Rugby enthusiast said that if th© Council acquired Lancaster Park with the intention of running it as a sports ground, the athletic people would support that. If, however, th© Council's idea was to add the park to the number of public domains in tho city, th© position of the football and cricket clubs using the grounds would not be I improved. It was difficult enough now, when matches, wero played on public j domains, for the players to keep their grounds clear of spectators, as there were always some people who insisted on their rights to bo present on any ■part of the nublio reserves. If Lancaster Park were put into a similar position, it would mean that football and cricket would have to be **.layed elsewhere. He was sure that if the Council purchased the ground and managed it as a sports ground, the existing sports bodies would com© to satisfactory terms for the use of it. THE CHAniMAN OF THE BOARD. The chairman (Mr Charles Clark) of the Board of Control, tho body elected by tho Canterbury Cricket Association which controls the park in trust for the purposes of amateur sport, informed the representative of "The Press" that the Board had named a price below, which, in his opinion, the Park should not be sold, and th© Board had no intention of haggling with the Council in respect to it. There was not, he believed, any possibility of the Council's offer being accepted, as the Board required £10,000 to* pay off its liabilities, which consisted of debentures totalling £6000, and a mortgago of £4000. Another proposal, if the Council did not purchase, was the sub-division and sale of the Park for building purposes. Some time ago a trial sub-division plan was preraared with two streets, each on© chain in width, running north and south, and providing for 54 building sections, averaging 32 perches each. It was possible to increase the number of sections, as a chain frontage was greater than was absolutely necessary. A sub-division on these lines would result in about £10,000 being obtained. But, assuming that only £8000 could be obtained, it was no argument that th© Council should not offer more than that sum. A central ground was. he contended, required for amateur athletics and a ground to which admis-

sion could be charged, and Lancaster Park fulfilled these requirements. In any ca*-e the debenture-holders not pressing for payment, and the Park liad been paying good interest and would continue to do so; but ftho Board, in order to pay it* way, had been starring the ground and oould not raise money for necessary improvements. The "rates amounted to £80 annually, and this charge bad bweu a handicap in the past; the Council now had power to remit rates on sports grounds. Concluding, Mr Clark expressed tbe opinion that from tbe view of one interested in athletic sports, ho would sooner see tbe Board retain possession and control of the Park if it had sufficient funds, but as there was no immediate prospect of funds being; forthcoming it would be bettor if tho City Council took the Park over. If Board and Council were on the Bfttt** financial basis, lie would prefer th© control to remain unaltered. MR F. WILDING'S VIEATS. Mr F. Wilding, a member of tbe Board of Control, who has had A very lengthy connection with the Park, was also seen. Mr Wilding prefaced his remarks by emphasising that what no said was to be considered aa only tote expression of his personal opinions. The Board had not yet received a communication from the City Council cortr voying the terms upon which the city was prepared to purchase the Park, and consequently had not considered the matter. It was not. likely, Air AA'ilding said, that the Cricket Association would consent to sell the Park at a sum not equal to the amount of the debentures and the mortgage. Not only would there bo an objection to offering tho Association's creditors less than twenty shillings in the pound, but as an. examination of the balance abeets of tho Board of Control for the last fetf years would show that there had been a steady increase in the receipts during the past few years, the twice put upon th property, £10,000, was very moderate. "Is that bedrock price?'' asked tho reporter. "It is not likely to-be modified," replied Mr AA'ilding, "though I am only sneaking as an individual member Of the Board. As "far as lam concerned it would be bedrock." Continuing, Mr Wilding said that'th© ground was worth moro thah £10,000 because it was a going concert, and at present it was producing interest 6n that amount. Tho income was increasing, and the ground at present was s£lf-Oupporting. AVith the expenditure of £2000, that was much needed for permanent improvements the revenue would increase- largely. The expenditure required was mainly for the provision of proper accommodation for annual subscribers. In all grounds of similar character in other parte of the world annual subscribers wero their financial maiiißtay, but to get such subscribers it was necessary to provide properly appointed members' stands. He did not have the {slightest doubt thab as soon an suoh stands Were provided tho animal members Would increase two or three fold. Seeing that the park Is at present self-supporting, and if, as was proposed, it was leased by the Council to the Cricket Association for 21 years, the city during that .period would not los© one penny. It Was popoeed that the Association should pay a rent sufficient to Cover the interest. At the end of the term of tho lease the city would have tho benefit of the increased value of the Pafk. As to what that increajae would be, Mr Wilding thought it might piwo tho ftubj .ci» of a fruitful discussion between the Council and the cricketers and the footballers. No doubt there would be aft amusing diversity of opinion on tlio point, especially amongst tiie believers in the canal scheme and the infidels! Asked regarding the proposed lease, Mr AVilding said that uiidci* it the Cricket Association would have full control of the park. It was proponed thab ■ substantial guarantee* should be forthcoming from the Cricket Association for tho proper conduct of the park, and ths payment of rent and that, so long; aa the Park was well adflliniittered, it should be devoted to the purposes of cricket, football, and other sports. The lease would also provide that if the tt&rk was wanted by the municipal aitUtorities for such purposes afe the entertainment of tho fleet, or for a floral fete, at for other jptibuo functions, the n*4uiicipality should bavO tho USO of it gratis. . "Assuming that £8000 is the Actual value of tho ground at the present time," Mr Wilding "continued, "it i» obvious that tho purchase at £10,000 will be advantageous to the community if the responsibility of prenriding interest on £10,000 lor -the next twoaty years is taken by the Cricket Aeaoei*tion on their own shoulders. Tbft municipality is in aposition-to bdttCOw money cheaply. At €h« end of tho term, of tbe lease the comiflttlttlty will get • tbe benefit of the increased value of tho Park. It is a bad bargain, for tho Cricket Association, at first brush, but they will get th© benefit of tho innovation of tho t?&vk, and they lw_po to get somo assistaneo in the matter of ~ tho water supply. ,T Asked what would happen If tho Council, Or tho ratepayers, deolitiM tO purchase, Mr Wilding said that at OnO period a majority 6f the Baafd favoured selling \a portion of th© Park ft* building sites, and it was believed that the proceed* would have sreUevod tho financial position of the Board very appreciably. "For my own part," Mr Wilding aaid, "I have always opposed selling a single acre, because 1 am convinced that in tho future, and tho not very distant futuro. evoty bit of Lancaster Park will bo needed, and more than needed. Probably our descendants will regret that larger provision -was not made for healthful outdoor recreations at a time when such provision conld hay© been made at comparatively little cost. I think; myself, that the Council will sco that tho Cricket Association is meeting them in a broad and liberal spirit, and I don't think that, ultimately, there will b© much difficulty about the price when tho financial position is thorottgluy tmdflrstood. It is probable that thero will b© a more serious difficulty when tho cricketers themselves understand th© financial position because many of them still think that the future movement in value of Lancaster Park should belong to them. There is a groat deal *■ to be said from that point of view. Probably th© view of the majority will be that tho interests of cricket will Tie secured by a 21 years' lease of the park and that the cricketers of the futuro can safely rely on the City Council to meet them fairly and reasonably when the time comes to ask for a renewal of the lease. ■ Most Of us think that, if the cricketers administer the park well and duly perform tho obligations undertaken, there will be no difficulty about their tenure of the park being assured. The park, at present, is owned practically by naif a dossen persons, trustees nominated by tho Cricket Association,, but no individual has any pecuniary interest in tho remotest degree, in tho proprietorship of the ground. The debentures and tho mortgage aro ordinary debts of tho Cricket Association. In the event of tho citu-ens purchasing the Park it may be advisable, in view of tbe restricted statutory power that municipAlitioa -■■ have of leasing reserve* to havo a short special Act passed. To auch an Act there would be no and it would be put through practically without expense. One of the city members would, no doubt, be riad to take charge of tbe bill. We hope,'* remarked Mr Wilding in concluding., "that tho City Council will appoint a sub-committco to meet ua, discuss tho whole position, and examine the balanco sheets carefully. There is little doubt, if the question is approached ia a moderate, fair-minded manner by both parties, that terms advantageous alike A to the community aud the cricketers J& can be arrived at." __S9