HUTT PARK COMMITTEE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 213, 5 June 1931, Page 5

HUTT PARK COMMITTEE

Members Meet The first meeting of the newly-appoint-ed Hutt Park Committee was held last night. The members are: Messrs. A. J. Hobbs, W. G. Meldrum, D. S. Patrick (Lower Hutt), J. W. Longman, R. W. Toomath, E. T. E. Hogg (Petone). and A. Walker (Eastbourne). . . The chairman (Mr. Hogg) said it was gratifying to see all the members of the old committee back again. He specially congratulated Mr. Hobbs, who had been a member of the committee for twenty years. His knowledge was particularly valuable to the committee in its deliberations. There was a certain conflict of opinion regarding the conduct of certain youths and men who played football on a ground at the northern end of the Park A complaint was received from the secretary of the Moera Ratepayers’ League calling attention to the fact that some of the players dressed in the open in the view ot houses. He asked that dressing sheds be erected in the vicinity. The caretaker reported that he had not noticed anything calling for criticism. Mr. Longman was of the opinion that there was something in the complaint. It was decided to go into the question of e: 'ing dressing sheds on the ground. At the request of the Shandon G°it Club and the Wellington Trotting Club, it was decided not to call tenders for a grazing leese of the park for twelve months, provided the two clubs kept the grass down on the areas of the park not used by them. Hitherto the clubs had paid the amount the committee used to receive from grazing so that the committee would not be the loser. At the present time their finances prevented a continuance of that undertaking. . The holders of the . refreshment. rights on the park wrote asking for a rebate m the present rent, in view of the fact that there had been a loss of revenue due to the falling-off in picnic and other parties, consequent on the Hawke’s Bay earthquake. The committee decided it could not very well do anything in the matter. It had been very well satisfied with the previous tenants, and had let the present tenants have the place only because their tender was the highest.’ It would not be fair to the other tenderers to agree to any rebate in the rent. While previously there were only two playing grounds on the park, now there are three. One is leased to the Rugby Union, another to the Soccer code, and now the third has been taken by the Hockey Association. Each code is paying £lO/10/- a season for the ground. It was stated that there is a possibility of a fourth ground, and it was thought that it would be a good thing to let it to the Rugby League. Verbal applications had been made by its delegates, but no concrete proposal had been forthcoming. Mr. Longmore considered that as they had not had the courtesy to reply to the secretary’s reminder to make written application before the committee meeting they ought not to be considered. The chairman was opposed to a fourth ground, as spectators of any games would come within the line of fire of golfers. It might lead to danger. The question is to be further investigated. The caretaker recommended that hard tennis courts be put down in place of the present two grass courts. By that means more revenue would be forthcoming to the committee. The secretary pointed out that the labour would be done by unemployed men and that the maiu expense would be the purchase of the tar. The practicability is to be further investigated. Satisfaction was expressed by members at the beneficial work done on the park by unemployed labour. Depressions which in wet weather assumed the proportions of lagoons had been filled in, and the general level of the park vastly improved. '