STAND FOE SPECTATORS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 13

STAND FOE SPECTATORS

PROPOSALS TO CITY COUNCIL

'Proposals that better provision should be made for. spectators at the Basin. Reserve was made to the reserves committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon by a deputation representing the Wellington Cricket Association. The suggestions made were that an embankment should be formed on the eastern and south-east-ern sides of the ground and that a members' stand should be erected on the southern side about opposite the Caledonian Hotel. Mr. P. B. Broad, chairman of the management committee of the Cricket i Association, said that the provision of | better accommodation was of interest not only to cricketers, but to the council and all who used the reserve. The association suggested that the cheapest way of providing accommodation would be by building an embankment on the eastern and south-eastern sides, j Something of the kind had been done at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, by making an embankment about 15 feet high, extending about half-way round the ground, and from what he had heard the formation there had cost nothing, for over a period of years the Gas Company had built up the bank as a slag dump. It had taken some time, but the results were satisfactory. The association had in mind something of the same kind, 25 to 30 feet in height round those parts of the] reserve which got the greatest sun-| shine and warmth. The chairman (Councillor J. Burns) remarked that such an embankment might shut out the view of residents living on that side of the Basin. Mr. Broad referred to "the Hill" on the Sydney cricket ground as a most successful example of an artificial bank. This was a grassy slope about 25 feet high, which provided a great deal of space for spectators, and if they could get something of that kind the association would tte willing to assist, for ] they were earnestly concerned to' secure more permanent accommodation at the reserve. I Mr. Broad. said that the association would also very much, like to see a I members' stand provided on the south side of the ground, and would do what it could to assist. They did not ask for anything, elaborate, but suggested a wooden stand to seat 400 or 500. BASIN AS AN OVAL. Councillor L. McKenzie recalled a plan prepared by the late Mr. W. H.I Morton, as City Engineer, for the conversion of the playing area at the Basin into an'oval by cutting off the corner and extending the field up to the front of the new pavilion. On the southern side there was to have been a house for the machines and on top of it an uncovered stand. But those plans were dropped because the carnival money did not come up to the estimate. ■ "I still contend that it would be best to make an oval out of the Basin Reserve," said Councillor McKenzie. "Not only would it give more room for accommodation, but it would bring the Basin into conformity with other cricket grounds." . CHAIRMAN'S REPLY. Councillor Burns said' that the question of the embankment on the sunny side of the ground had been considered at the last •meeting "of'the committee, which had asked the City Engineer to peg off the ground and give a sketch of what would be required. The engineer, had reported that the spoil removed in making the new storm-water culvert would be required at the Chaytor Road tip. However, he thought he could say that the idea had the approval of the committee. A point to be considered was the effect of the reduction of the size of the ground that would result from the formation of the embankment. "It will mean the cutting out of one Soccer ground," said Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, Director of Parks and Reserves, who added that it did not seem economic to cart spoil all the way from Kent Terrace to Karori. Councillor Burns said that an examination of the ground would be made and a report would be furnished. The City Engineer, Mr. G. A. Hart, asked Mr. Broad if he could secure a sketch of Lancaster Park to show exactly what the Cricket Association had in mind.

Mr. K. E. Luke said that the chief thing to be borne in mind was that any embankment of the kind would have to have a slope of one in three. That was to say, if the bank was six feet in height it would be thrown out for a distance of 18 feet; if 10 feet in width it would go out 30 feet, and so on. Then, if it was not to be sloped the same way behind, a retaining wall would be necessary.