The Park.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18636, 10 March 1926, Page 8

The Park.

It is unfortunate that tennis enthusiasts should continue to regard the refusal of their application to the Domains Board as an indication that the Board has no interest in sport. It is no doubt very galling to them to think—if they are foolish enough to think—that they have less freedom in the Park than have the sheep; but it would be more to the point to ask why the Park was reserved in the first place. It was not of course reserved for a sheep run, and if it had been set apart to provide playing areas for " clean, " vigorous and healthy sport," tennis would have almost the first claim on it. But sheep and sport both are merely the accidents of the Park, and in no sense the reason of its existence. The Park exists because the founders of Canterbury had, the wisdom, the taste, the and the prophetic, vision to see that the day would come when a wild and open space in the heart of the capital city would be worth more than pavements of gold. It was set apart to be, and to remain, and increasingly each year be felt to be, not meii-ely a city lung but a city temple—if to say so does not sound to'o sanctimonious; a place in which old and young would always find physical refreshment, but find also, whether they realised it or consciously valued it, mental and spiritual repose. This does not mean that we should not f play games there, or not run sheep there—though tfie presence of sheep accords better with the original idea than does the presence of athletes. But it means that we should not erect fences or barj riers there, or enclose or reserve any more special areas, if in doing so we rob the Park of its essential character and use. It is very unfortunate for the United Club that its growth, which from every other point of view is so desirable,.should have brought it into conflict with that earlier and bigger and for i ever stronger club which consists of all the citizens of Christchurch. The Board's concession of a little more side room to facilitate the rolling of the greens is reasonable in the circumstances, since it would be harsh to grant space for greens and not at the same time allow the necessary elbowroom for making the best use of them. But to have allowed the club to alienate any more land towards Riccarton road would have been a blunder in itself, and the cause of endless blunders in the future; for of course tennis players have no more rights than the players of any other game, and it would be impossible to refuse to one club what had been granted to another. After all, it is possible to create new tennis grqunds, but there can never be another Hagley Park if we are once foolish enough to spoil it.