ST. ALBANS PARK

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17273, 11 October 1921, Page 11

ST. ALBANS PARK

N|r PROPOSED TEN"NIS COURTS. £ proposal that a portion of St. Allans Park should bo set aside for tenpjs conr:s came before the City Council last night. The Kea?n-e 3 Committee presented (I» following report on the matter:— The Edgeware Cowling Club has applied for extra ground for four tennis courts Jn the above park. As this will not in- • tcrfew with other playing grounds, the (Joinjnittee recommends that the request ie granted, the rent to be at the same rate as charged for the bowling green ond croquet ground, v/hieh works out at |Jd per foot frontage en the park. Cr. H. Hunter said it was a wrong ,'. policy to allow portions of the public 1 parks to be fenced off for what was really private use. If tennis courts were to be placed in public parks then the Council should take control as was done at Timaru and in other places. He moreA that the Council review its policy in permitting portions of-the parks to be enclosed by clubs, and that the report te referred back to the committee with t, recommendation that the Committee jteelf should make all necessary arrangements for the # provision of tennis courts br the Council, such courts to be under the control of the Council on such terms and conditions as might be expedient from the Council's point of view. C«V It. D. Martin, who presented a petition from 90 residents of St. Albans protesting against the request of the club being granted, seconded the motion, and stated the people who were objecting would agree to the proposal as outlined hy Cr. Hunter. Cr, MrCombs said the Council should make proper provision for all sports and games in the parks where the demand for such existed. Cr. H.« F. Herbert agreed with this point of view. Cr. H. T. Armstrong said the Reserves Committee were not proposing to giro to the St. Albans committee anything that had in the past been denied to other clubs. The Reserves Committee had acted in accordance with the policy of the Council. There was no reason whv the tennis people should be treated differently from" bowling, cricket or football people, who were all granted•reas in the parks. Or. J. B. Brunt held that it would be a long time before the Council would take over the control of the sports and games played on the public parks. He fttpported the committee's report. Cr. A. McEellar said he, did not object to the report being referred back, but he was sorry to see a practice growing up whereby Councillors in commity tee agreed to a certain line of action, end then acted quite differently when the committee's report came be- ' fore, the Council. Cr..W..n. Winsor .agreed with the principle of Cr. Hunter's motion. The Council, be held, should take control of #ll the playing grounds. The clubs were quite; prepared- to pay for all #»- expense tin Council was put to.' The Council could enforce control of the grounds much better than a club could, for the .season that the Council had- power* which a club had not. Or. C. W. Hervey. said, the., Council (fhodjd a/squire control <of'the whole area of Hagley Park. Cr, Winsor: Not on your life! , Cr.- Hervey said it was a ridiculous thing that Hagley Pari should in the tnain be used as a sheep run. The' Deputy-Mayor <Cr, J. A. Ifleflher) said "the proposal embodied in the amendment would cost* the Council many .thousands of pounds if it were carried out. and -there' was no provision ' this year for expenditure. Cr. Hunter ' said the Committee should only deal with the tennis courts asked for by the St. Albans Club. Cr. A. McXeUar suggested that the Question of policy should be dealt with notice of motion.- j ■-■■■■ .■•;.■.!--.-■. ""■ "Cr. Hunter'i amendment was put and V Carried. ...