SPORTS GROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 772, 22 March 1910, Page 8

SPORTS GROUNDS.

CITY COUNCIL'S ATTIfUDE. ' , WHAT OTHER CITIES DO. Tie question of the allocation of the various city reserves to sports bodies was again discussed at the meeting of the Reserves Committee of the City Council yesterday morning. A letter was received from the Wellington Football Association expressing satisfaction at the liberal manner in which tho association had been treated by the committee. The Lacrosse Association wrote asking if the committee could not continue to let the association have tho use of the western portion of the Basin Reserve as it had last year, and expressing the thanks of the association for the Duppa Street ground. l A deputation from the Wellington Rugby Union, consisting of Messrs. S. S. Brown and W. Perry, waited on the committee. When the draft allocation of grounds was drawn up the Rugby Union wab given two grounds, Newtown Park and Duppa Street. The deputation urged that considering the number of players in the Rugby game they were entitled to the uso of more grounds. A report will be brought down by the committee to to-night's meeting of the Council. # . . .

Some time ago the Reserves Committee, at the instigation .of some of the local .sports bodies, sought information from various quarters , of New Zealand and Australia as to the custom prevailing in regard to the use of municipal grounds by sports bodies.' Tho replies which have come to hand indicate that .Wellington athletes have a good deal to be thankful to the Reserves Committee for. A reply from the Town Clerk of Christchurch as to the terms on which the council allows sports bodies to . use- the Sydenham, Lmwood, and St. Albans Parks states that the following charges are made: I'ootball and oricket clubs, £5 os. per annum for one ground for one afternoon per week, payable in advance; iiockey clubs, £2 2s. per season for ono ground for one afternoon per week: ±4 4s. for two afternoons per week, lno maintenance , , of grounds. is- done by, and at the expense of clubs the council only mowing the grass .when required. ■ •

A reply received from the Adelaide Uty Council states that surrounding ™ e city are 2300 acres.of parks, and the whole of this area, with the exception of. 360 acres reserved for Government purposes, is under municipal ™ L jffl? Parks a T e largely availed of by athletic bodies which obtain permits from the Town Clerk- who imposes a small fee. The following permits were issued last season:—Cricket, m, football 50; tennis 35, hockey 13, laC £°£ 2 > 1. bowk, 1. The Town Clerk of Sydney has replied that the only park under the control of the city where games are allowed is Moore Park, 260 acres in extent and situated .on the outskirts of the city. This ground is . used largely for cricket and football.. The council makes . the . asphalt . cricket pitcnes and maintains them during the season, charging each 'club a small fee tor the use of the ground. : A sum of hi is charged for the renovation of each wicket. at the beginning of the and 12s. per month is levied for maintenance. The regulations provide that permits. shall -.he. the Town. Clerk, and no . play is al.Jowed'.without: these permits-v,Afr-the" end of each season, the secretary of every club lias to see that each pitch is properly'covered up with earth ■ , In Brisbane'any. cricket' or football club is allowed to .use the municipal grounds, but no exclusive right is given to any one sport or, club. There is-an unwritten law amongst players that, certain clubs which bear the expense of keeping their grounds in plkymg order shall not. be ■ interfered with ine same conditions obtain in refer , Sj" ; CrOqilefc . lawns > and tennis