LYALL BAY AREA

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1937, Page 10

LYALL BAY AREA

SPORT OR COMMERCE?

APPEAL TO CITY COUNCIL

NEEDS OF AIRPORT

Fears were expressed by sports bodies which waited on the City Council last night that the only remaining level area of land near the' city (at Lyall Bay) might be lost to sport by .the encroachment of the aerodrome through the rapid spread of commercial aviation. Such f- xs were soothed but not entirely allayed by the Mayor's statement, expressing the view of the council that it would safeguard the grounds to sport as long as possible, but that neither he nor anyone else could foretell the future needs of aviation, nor what the Commission now sitting regarding the airport might report. A plea that the City Council would preserve the grounds in Lyall Bay area to sport was made by a deputation headed by Mr. J. N. Millard, representing the Rugby Union, and others representing tlie Football Association, the Hockey Association, the Cricket Association, the Mercantile League, and other sporting bodies. Thanking, the council for past treatment, and appreciating the fact that they had a reserves committee and Director of Parks who had with vision made play areas of hills and gullies, at the cost of the city,' Mr. Millard said that they were suspicious of the aerodrome, and feared that commercial interests might prove more powerful than the health interests of the community. He drew attention to the campaign being waged in England for the provision of more playing fields. Lyall Bay was the only big area available near the city, over 100 acres. None of the sports bodies had sufficient playing areas near the city. The Rugby Union had to send players out to four grounds at Hutt Park. DOUBLE-BANKED NOW. There was a fea) . that twelve grounds at Lyall Bay would be included in the aerodrome. These grounds were double-banked on Saturdays, providing accommodation- for 700 players. The area also provided playing room for children and for schoolboys' play on Fridays. It would be a calamity if it was closed to sport. It was no good sending people out into the country, because grounds there were being used. If it were possible while there was time, could the Lyall Bay area be safeguarded to sport? The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said that he was glad to have, heard the representations' of the sports bodies, but he thought that they were rather unnecessarily concerned about the position. The deputation could take it; that the council was of the same opinion in regard to the retention of the grounds for sports purposes. Probably the rumours had arisen from developments in connection with the Exhibition. To make the area suitable for that purpose further levelling had to be carried out, and. when the Government was approached it made the condition that a subsidy would be granted only if the area were proclaimed as within the aerodrome. BUILDINGS ONLS BARRED. The main point inyolved during those discussions was whether buildings should be allowed to be erected on the area, and special design and arrangement of the Exhibition buildings had been decided upon to meet the requirements of the Government. -When the Exhibition was over the area would be kept clear of buildings, possibly for all time, to facilitate landings on the aerodrome from that direction. It was extremely unlikely that landings would be. made in that direction, but it was necessary that that part of the area should be kept clear of buildings. After the Exhibition period there would be no buildings on the land. • OUTSIDE COUNCIL'S POWERS. "A commission set up by the Government is, of course, preparing a.report upon the' development of the Rongotai aerodrome," said Mr. Hislop, "but that is not a matter over which the City Council has any control, nor is the council represented upon that commission as a council. What report that commission is going to bring down I don't know, nor what ;its recommendations as to what should be done will be; but you can take it that this council is not going to allow those grounds to be taken'away from the sports people of Wellington.

"I don't think you have very much to fear, for—as far as it is possible for us to go, and it is possible for us to go a very long way—we are determined to keep those grounds for football, cricket, and any other game that is played on them. I think that you can also take it that we are anxious to find as far as we can more and more grounds, and that we are only limited by lack of money from getting them. That is one more argument which backs us up in our attitude to retain these grounds. I don't think you have anything to fear, but, of course, no one has any idea what the commission may recommend. It'may recommend that the whole of the peninsula should be swept clear of houses, for an aerodrome; but as far as we are concerned as a council and as owners of the aerodrome, we will do all we can to preserve these grounds for sports grounds. I think that there is no doubt that that is our feeling, and that we will be at one with you in any action that may be taken."