SKATING FLOOR IN BARRACKS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 10

SKATING FLOOR IN BARRACKS

Explanation By Vice-President *

Suggestions thatrthe New Zealand Roller Skating Association had acted improperly in going ahead with the sale of the wooden floor in King Edwerd Barracks before the Minister ri Defence (Mr Connolly) bad had time to see it and decide whether the Army would h<lp in retaining it for future indoor tournament use were denied yesterday by Mr J. G. Power, of Christchurch. Mr Power, a vice-president of the association, was eommeMng on a report that the Minister had arrived at the barracks yesterday morning to look at the floor only to find that part of it had been sold, and that the rest war under sale negotiations. Mr Power, referring to a published remark that it the City Council decided to retain the floor he was “fairly sure we could cancel the sale arrangements,” said that the association had not the; slightest intention ot celling Us agreement to seU «B 0 'square feet of the flooring tq the New Zealand Poultry Board. “We would certainly not ittist on anything of the sort, but if the Council decided to retain the floor we would suggest 'to the board that in the circumstances, it might like to make a civie gesture and relinquish its unquestionable right to the timber,” he said. Mr Power said that the flooring sold to the Poultry Board war half the total area laid In the barracks. The cost to put down -the floor was £l5OO and he thought the board’s section had been sold at approximately half price but Mi was not sure because Ke had not handled the sale personally. No Official Adviee Referring to the association’s sale before the Minister saw the floor, he said: “We started the ball rolling about keeping it for the eivtc good as early as last November because we knew it was goitig down and we thought it would be a shame if it was shifted.’ said Mr Power. After dealing, with subsequent negotiations and an approach to the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) who said he Would take up the matter with Mr Connolly, he said: “We did not hear another thing until we saw in a newst aperthat Mr Connolly was coming down. We got quite a surprise betmiur we thought it had be* ‘scrubbed.’ "We were not officially told that Mr Connolly was comtog down to look at the floor— after all we were the ownere-jtnd were not invited to be thara when he was. We would M* liked to be there. "The association cannot ba blamed for proceeding to sell because we had no official advfct of any other move. "We advertised the floor raj sale last Saturda*_and got peopto coming around to have a lotkM it. Two or three people ar* interested in the half we hk»* not yet agreed to sell, and if they do not buy it it wiUJfWj ably go to auction,” Mr TOW* said.