"Physical recreation facilities minimal”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31923, 26 February 1969, Page 15

"Physical recreation facilities minimal”

TN 1970 Christchurch will A lack many sporting and recreational facilities that were regarded as essential In Western European countries in 1935.

It will go into the new decade without one covered, heated, Olympic-sized swimming pool, an all weather track, and with only one council owned gymnasium. Even compared with the

rest of New Zealand—which, as a country, has never been regarded as a leader in the provision of public physical recreation amenities Christchurch facilities are minimal.

There appear to be several reasons for this lack of civic development Because of large areas of land available for simple park land, much money has been expended over the

years in providing good grounds for Held sports. Again, the moderate, if variable, climate of the city has meant that grass running tracks and outdoor swimming pools have been adequate under most conditions.

Again because sports such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics and indoor basketball cater for a youthful age group which has little financial reserve compared with, for example, the members of a golf club, there has been a very limited amount of money available

from such sports organisations for equipment and buildings. In other cities, there has been much more progress in recent years. Dunedin has more to offer sportsmen than Christchurch. Nearly ten years ago the Dunedin City Council completed the redevelopment of the Caledonian Ground. It contains an excellent all weather running track, a full 500 metre banked cycling track, and a full sized gymnasium, as well as excellent stand and changing rooms.

A few years ago, the Moana Olympic pool was opened, and has proved to be an asset of which the city can be proud. It is heated, covered, on a fine site over-

looking the harbour, and is acknowledged as the best venue for competitive swimming in New Zealand. Now a new gymnasium complex on the outskirts of the city, is being developed. There has been an upsurge in participation, interest, and standard in sports in Dunedin as modern facilities have become available. The population of Christchurch is more than twice that of Dunedin. The prospects of Christchurch even approaching Dunedin’s standard in the next few years appear slight The deferment of the City Council’s application for a $200,000 loan to provide for an all weather track is a bitter disappointment to athletic administrators who have been associated with the project for more than five years. It is appreciated that loan money is restricted at present, but it is difficult for sports people to accept the city council’s order of priorities in loan applications when it appears to give preference to a $700,000 application for Cathedral Square redevelopment. Without an all weather athletic track, athletes in Christchurch will continue to lack the modern facilities

available in other cities. Hamilton will be the next city to join the group of centres that provides good amenities. The best athletes in Canterbury will continue to travel to Wellington or Dunedin where their performances are so much better than those attained locally on grass tracks. When will we get a covered swimming pool similar to the Moana pool? By 1974, in time for the Commonwealth Games? Or will we make do with a temporary cover over the Centennial Pool to save money?

This article was specially written for “The Press” by the president of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Mr B. H. Kerr).