ALARMING VANDALISM AT JELLIE PARK

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 13

ALARMING VANDALISM AT JELLIE PARK

Vandalism at Jellie Park had assumed alarming proportions. and it was time something was done to protect the ratepayers’ property, said the chairman (Cr. J. I. Colligan) at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council last evening. Cr. Colligan's remarks set off a brisk debate on what action the council should take. In a report to the council. Cr. Colligan said there had been two acts of vandalism at the park in the last two weeks. “In the first instance six camellia plants were taken, and then the council staff found trenches had been dug at both ends of the weir at the outlet to the lake. This action could cause damage to the weir.” If the ratepayers were made aware of these cases of vandalism, he felt sure the council would receive their eo-operation. There might be residents in the area who would be willing to offer their services as voluntary rangers and assist the council in minimising acts of vandalism in the park, said Cr. Colligan. “I don’t think we can blame the children for taking the trees—they don’t know the difference between a gooseberry bush and an azalea." said Cr. A. R. Blank "It looks to me as though some family man is fixing his garden up with our trees." He considered the council should make some move to prohibit bicycles in the park, said Cr. Blank. The children were riding their bicycles along the banks and doing a great deal of damage Because they had undermined the weir, the lake had been drained and was now only mud. “There seems to be quite a nest of troublesome youngsters in that area.” Cr. Colligan: I hear that they have also damaged approaches to the bridges. Cr. H. J Revnolds disagreed with Cr. Blank. “What is the park there for anyway? Is it there to be dollied up and looked at, and not used? The damage that these children do over a period is probably not great. It is better to have children paddling and bathing in the park than playing on the roads.” Cr. Colligan: But this is vandalism! Cr. W. E. Cassidy: You gel it at any park Cr. A. E. Wagner moved that the council put up notices in appropriate places to keep cyclists to the paths. “I am glad to hear that Cr. Reynolds is interested in children playing in Jellie Park.” said Cr. Blank. “I think I know about as much about children as anyone here, and* you are not being kind to children if you give them too much liberty. I

saw children there with bows and arrows and shanghais, and I wonder what Cr. Reynolds would say if he had the eye of his child damaged? If we allow this sort of behaviour to go on we are in for serious trouble. "I am also concerned about Cr. Reynolds’ remarks about children bathing in the lake. We have had a report from the Health Department that the lake is not safe for bathing—would Cr. Reynolds say we should allow the children to bathe in unsafe water?” "Cr. Blank is a long way out of his reasoning.” said Cr. Reynolds. “A child could be hurt far more easily on the streets than in a park. The whole idea of parks is for recreation and for children to work off their high spirits.” Cr. Wagner’s motion was then put. and carried after a show of hands had been called for. Soccer at Park.— The Burnside High School has been granted the use of the football grounds at Burnside Park between 2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesdays for school soccer. The Groynes.— The council will close the entrances to the Groynes picnic ground during the winter. The county engineer reported that a large amount of traffic had passed over an area which had recently been rotary-hoed. Fendalton Road Flats. — An application for permission to erect six flats at 43 Fendalton road has been refused because the property is zoned a= Residential A in the council’s undisclosed district planning scheme.