No reason to fear “ghost stadiums”

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33447, 31 January 1974, Page 5

No reason to fear “ghost stadiums”

Christchurch need not worry that its sporting venues will not be used to capacity after the Commonwealth Games, says Mrs Anne Kane, Lady Provost of Edinburgh.

Four years after the Games were held in Edinburgh, the city finds it does not have enough facilities to cope with the interest in sport generated by the Games, said Mrs Kane in Christchurch yesterday. "We don’t say it pays though,” she said, “but we regard this as a social service.”

Mr Kane, who is Lord Provost of Edinburgh, brought the Commonwealth Games flag to Christchurch for the opening ceremony. The couple has returned to Christchurch after a four-day visit to Dunedin, where Mr Kane opened Festival Week. They will be in New Zealand until February 7, and plan to visit relations in the North Island. The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) had invited them to attend the opening of Parliament.

WELFARE WORK The welfare of the elderly is one of Mrs Kane’s special interests. In Dunedin she visited the Aged People’s Welfare Council day centre, which is, she says, run on

similar lines to centres in Edinburgh. She hopes to have time to observe welfare work among the elderly while she is in Christchurch.

A self-taught dressmaker who makes all her own clothes, Mrs Kane taught sewing at a day centre for senior citizens for a number of years. She is enthusiastic about her pupils. “They were marvellous, made me feel it was good to be alive,” she smiled.

As well as dressmaking, the centre provides tuition in many arts and crafts, drama and singing lessons, and French lessons. The older people are, she says, a little slow learning a new language, but they do very well and enjoy the challenge.

THREE CENTRES Meals and baths are also provided, and there are chiropody and hair dressing services available. "We now have three centres in Edinburgh, and there is always a waiting list,” said Mrs Kane. Mr Kane has been Lord Provost for 18 months of a three-year term. He has been a councillor for 35 years. At first the prospect of such a role in public life “terrified” Mrs Kane, but she enjoys it now.

Her duties are similar to those of a mayoress, although Edinburgh’s worldrenowned, three-week festi-

val makes her social calendar busier than most. One of their three children is still at home, but so far Mrs Kane has resisted having help in the house. “At times I’ve been sorely tempted, but I’d rather manage myself if I can,” said Mrs Kane, who likes to have a “measure of independence.”

She has considerable admiration for the Mayoress of Christchurch (Mrs Alexia Pickering), who visited Edinburgh last year. “While she was in Edinburgh, Mrs Pickering had the use of a council car, and our drivers are still talking about how marvellous she was,” said Mrs Kane.

Although they are not an especially sport-minded family, Mrs Kane’s younger daughter is a keen netball player, and her son is interested in football. “My older daughter is quite different,” she said. “She’s an artist and works for a London magazine, “Time Out.”

EXCEPTIONAL WARMTH In spite of many pressing invitations to stay longer in Dunedin, Mr and Mrs Kane did not want to miss the track and field events at the Games on Tuesday afternoon. Mrs Kane found the events very exciting, and she also enjoyed a night at the boxing. “And I would also like to express our appreciation of the welcome we have received here,” said Mrs Kane. "Scotland has the reputation of being a friendly country, but there is an openness and warmth here that is quite exceptional.”