THE BASIN RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2569, 17 September 1915, Page 6

THE BASIN RESERVE

PROPOSED ALTERATIONS MAYOR'S APPEAL TO "SPORTS" Tho much-discussed subjcct of the proposed alterations to the Basin -Rosen-© was again before tho City Council last night, when a deputation urged that tlio liill being promoted in Parliament should bo withdrawn. The deputation was introduced by Councillor G. Frost, who apologised for tho absence of Dr. A. K.. Newman. Tho latter was to have been the principal speaker, but was dotainod by Business in tho llouso of Representatives. Mr. C. G. Wilson, chairman of tlie Wellington Cricket Association, protested against the proposed alterations to tho reservo. He complimented the council on what nad been done under adverse circumstances to provido playnig grounds for tho youth of' the City. But tho Basin Reserve was the' only one in the contre of tlie City. Tho proposed alterations wero a breach of tho trust under whioh the reservo was conveyed' to tho City. Tho area of land originally dedicated to tho City was 0} acres, but this had already been reduced to 0.3 acres. The present proposal would reduce the available playing area, to 6J acres. It was contended tnat tho land proposed to be taken was of great value to the City as a playing area, and it was extremely doubtful if the proposed alterations would effect any great.saving to the tramway undertaking. The position was that the citizens wero asked to support a scheme of which they had 110 information as to the actual cost. It was the duty of tho citizens co zealously safeguard the open playing spaces, and the deputation urged the council to withdraw tho Bill, which would bring about the proposed alterations.

Mr. A. Marryat, of tho council of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association,' said lie had been commissioned to say that Dr. Newman was thoroughly in accord with the views being put forward by the deputation. Mr. Marryatt paid a tribute to the work done by the Cricket Association in connection with tho Basin Resorve, and the money spent by that body on tho ground. The deputation, however, was not present to preserve the Reserve as a sports ground. What the deputation wanted the council to remember was this: In the centre of the city they had an open space of 9jJ acres, and if it cost a few extra thousand pounds to retain the full area, surely it was worth it. Ofleo the area was cutdown there was no telling ..where the cutting process would end. Mr. A. H. Miles, who spoke mainly from the citizens' point of view, supported what tho previous speakers had said. He strongly urged the council to retain intact the present area of the Reserve, which was the "open space of open spaces" in the city. In the older cities of tho world tho governing authorities were holding on to,every possible inch of open space. Ho urged the council to at least postpone action in the matter until the necessity of acquiring the land was a good deal more urgent'than present. _ ; . ■ By means of a few pointed questions, 'Councillor John Fuller, junr., drew the attention of the deputation to the fact that,in the leading.cities of Australia the tramlines led through important reserves.

•Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P., Luke) pointed out that originally it had been deemed necessary for the trams to be taken through the , Basin. Reserve, but the council had not been able to obtfain the authority because at that time the Basin Reserve and Nowtown Park were the only playing areas in the City. Since the inception of tho tramway 6vst-em tho council had sot about establishing further playing areas in and near the City, and the position was different now to what it was then. Sooner .or later the trams would havo to be taken through the Basin Reserve, so. that to accede to tho deputation's request- would be only postponing the. inevitable. The trouble was that the citizens had not been told tho whole truth about this corner. Tho council had had to pay for accidents that had occurred ?t this particular place.' There had been two accidents and there might be more if some improvement were not effected. , As to his. personal atfitmdo oi} the question of open spaces he challenged anyone to say that he had not acted in *he interests of the young people. Tho deputation was present.no doubt in the interests of cricket and I other sports, and he appealed to them to be "sports," to let the Bill proceed, and let the children have the whole of the'playing area. When the deputation withdrew, the Mayor moved that the matter should be the subject of immediate discussion by the council. The motion was not seconded, and tho Basin Reserve -was not again referred to during the evening.