SPACE FOR SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 15

SPACE FOR SPORT

PLIMMERTON'S NEED POPULATION INCREASE Taking' the view that a sports ground should be set aside at Plimmerton before the influx of population, anticipated as a result of the improved access, has the effect of cutting up the land into small sections, a deputation representing ratepayers from Pukerua Bay, Plimmerton, and Paremata waited on the Hutt County Council yesterday afternoon with a request that their suggestion be \ placed before the Government. The deputation received an assurance from the chairman, Mr. D. R. Hoggard, that the council would place the matter before the Government.

Mi-. J, Wallace, Plimmerton, said that Plimmerton used to be inaccessible, but now that the district would be within about 25 minutes of the city it was anticipated that'the population would increase to some extent in the near future. He thought that the council should look to the future and see that arrangements were made to ensure that the future population of the district had ample facilities for recreation.

SHORTER WEEK. "The Government has introduced its new policy of the five-day week," said Mr. Wallace, "and that means extra recreation and extra people looking for recreation." Plimmerton was at present very hard up for sports grounds, and even the beach, which was a useful playing ground for children, was largely covered at high water. A play area was absolutely necessary for the district, and he hoped that the council would see that something was done about it immediately. A large amount of ground should be taken, so that there would be no danger of its becoming, insufficient to meet the needs of the surrounding ratepayers. The area which the deputation had in mind was on either side of the railway line in I the block-house area. The land, Mr. Wallace emphasised, could be obtained only if immediate action were taken. Mr. G. M. Henderson, Pukerua Bay, emphasised the point that the new sports grounds would be a wonderful asset to the people of Wellington during the summer months. During the next thirty or forty years the present beaches were going to become overcrowded and the sports grounds proposed would provide excellent picnicking facilities for the Wellington public. Mr. J. J. Curtis endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers. Several councillors spoke in support of the deputation, mention being made of the historic associations of the area suggested. Councillor R. L. Button stressed the lack of sports grounds in both Plimmerton and Parema^. The chairman assured the deputation that its request would be placed before the Government for consideration.