HAGLEY PARK.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18636, 10 March 1926, Page 11

HAGLEY PARK.

TO THE EDITOa OF "THE PKES9." Sir, —The report of the last meeting of the Christchurch Domains Board, which appeared in your paper last Saturday, has been, commented on very unfavourably by many I have spoken to. The motion the Board carried was about on all fours with their dealings with the Hospital Board, when they wero esked that a piece of ground which 1 was not used by them should be transferred to another public body for a site | to erect a nurses' liome. On thiß occasion the Domain put all sorts ot obstacles in the way. One of. these arguments was that the land was' being filched from the people, and it was not till public opinion grew so strong about the matter that they gave way and a site was decided on. The United Bowling and Tennis Club put in an application for 150 ft of additional land extending towards the Riccarton road, a piece of ground, which was absolutely no good for-any other sport, as it is too small, and the only other purpose it can be used for is to graze a few sheep. The Board turned down this request and passed a resolution that no more of the park was to be fenced in. Several arguments were advanced in favour of the resolution. One very wise member said sooner or later the whole park would be fenced in, whereas in the last 70 years not more than 10 acres has been fenced with wire netting. Another silly argument was that they might require this particular spot for an entrance to the park, whereas thev could make an entrance anywhere from the dip in the Riccarton road to the Carlton bridge. Mr Winsor was not far from the mark when he said these arguments were ridiculous. One member said the people of Riccarton were against portions of the park being fenced off for tennis courts. I have lived in the district for many years and have never heard anyone_express these views. They may be friends of this particular member, but I have not had the pleasure of their acquaintance and bringing up such bogus arguments is only pandering to a small socialistic class. The stand the Domains Boarcr have taken is a • selfish dog-in-the-manger attitude. They don't go in for sport themselves, and are too narrowminded to understand that by encouraging sport of all kind in Hagley Park, they are doing"a duty to the public as well as carrying out the intention of the pioneers who set aside 500 acres as a recreation ground for the public of Christchurch. The particular portion of the park used by the United Club has been transformed from ah open sheep run to a most, beautiful ground, and is one of the beauty_ spots of Christchurch arid the extension to the Riccarton road would have added to its beauty. Hundreds of people stroll up to see these grounds, and also witness the play, and if they are not content with looking Mirough the wire netting fence they are invited to go inside and. take a seat, all of which have been provided at the expense of the United Club. There has been talk lately of doing away with the Domains Board and handing over the .Domain and Park t&- the City Council : to look after. I should be'very-sorry to see this come about, but if the Domains Board continue to make themselves so.unpopular they will only have themselves to blame if such a thing happens. The Domains Board have done good .work in the past. The' Gardens are the finest in the T>ominion, very largely owing to the revenue • they, deriv© from the various sports that are being carried on in the park. There is no reason why we should not have a good Domains Board. If some of the present Board have outlived their usefulness they should retire and let better men take their place. The members who were in the minority at the-last meeting of the Domains Board are to be congratulated for the stand they took in the matter. Hoping someone' else will comment on the action of the Board.—Yours, etc.. R. D. HARMAN. Christchurch, March 9th.