SPORTS GROUNDS RATES REMITTED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 79, 3 April 1914, Page 10

SPORTS GROUNDS RATES REMITTED

CITY COUNCIL ACCEDES TO REQUESTS The oft-repeated requests by sport* bodies for the remission of rates on sports grounds have at last borne fruit, the City Council at its meeting last night deciding to conditionally lemit tho general rates on such properties. In its report the Finance Committee had inserted the following clause :—: — "That they have fully considered the various applications made for the i-pmission of rates on sports grounds, and have to recommend that the general late only be remitted on the following conditions : (1) _ That the Athletic Park and Association Ground at Kilbirnie be thrown open to the public -when not actually being used by the proprietors ; (2) that the tennis courts and bowling greens affected by this remission be open to tlie public, but not for play and only when play is in progress." Attached to the report was a schedule (published in last evening's Post) showing the separate rates charged against the various grounds. The total annual rates amounted to £483 13s and the proposed remissions to £303 10s. Councillor H. Buddie suggested that the words after "when" in the first condition should be struck out and the following > words inserted :_ "there is nothing in progress for which the proprietors have advertised their intention of charging." He did this, he said, so that the proprietors would not be able to keep the public out on some flimsy excuse. In regard to the second condition he suggested that the words ' ' and other grounds" be added after "bowling greens." and that the following addition be- made at the end of the clause : " unless play be between interprovincial teams and the proprietors have advertised their intention of charging the public." If his proposal were adopted it would mean that ai charge could be made for such fixtures as the Davis Cup. Councillor M. Luckie urged that the clause be referred back to the committee in order that it might consult with the sports bodies concerned to see ifo the proposals met with their approval. By these ' means a working basis could be arrived at. The second clause would have the effect of converting all tennis and bowling grounds into pnblic reserves, as the clubs would be precluded from making any charge whatever. Even if the clauses were amended as suggested by Councillor Buddie, endless difficulty would be created, as the position would be that the public would be given free access to private grounds. Councillor A. H. Hindmarsh contended that the proposals were merely an instruction to the council's officer to write to the sports bodies concerned to see if they were acceptable. The council should first endorse the principle of the remission of rates, and then, if necessary, the clauses could be referred back to the committee for conditions to be arranged later. Councillor R. Fletcher moved an amendment to the clause to make it read as follows : — "That they have fully considered the various applications made for the remission of rates « on sports grounds in the city, and have to recommend that the general rate only be remitted,on conditions ,to be mutually , agreed upon by the bodies concerned" Councillor Luckie seconded the amendment. Councillor T. C. A. Hislop, in supporting the amendment, pointed out that the clause had only been' brought down for an expression of opinion by the council. It would be quite unworkable to throw open private grounds to the public as spectators. Councillor E. Tregear opposed the clause. Why, he asked, should a struggling business man, who had to pay rates, be asked to subsidise sports bodies? , Councillor J. Godber was in accord with Councillor Fletcher's amendment. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said the idea was that playing areas only should be exempt from rates, but rates on the land occupied by pavilions should be levied, as was done in the Old Country. He was quite satisfied, as chairman of the committee, that the clause should be amended, as it had only been brought down so that the views of the council might be fully set forth. The motion in the amended form moved by Councillor Fletcher "was then carried.