SPORTS CENTRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1937, Page 10

SPORTS CENTRE

ONE FOR WELLINGTON

ATHLETE'S SUGGESTION

MT. COOK LOCALITY

The view is widely held that amateur athletics as a sport does not occupy the place it should do in Wellington at the present time. For this state of affairs officials generally attribute the lack of a centrally-situated ground on which training and sports meetings can be held regularly.

. The desire is for a home for athletics, , the contention being that until this is acquired the sport is not likely to regain the ground that has been lost •in the last ten years or so. With this ; object in view the use of the new 1 ground at Hataitai was obtained by the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre for last season and before the end of the season was reached opinions were divided as to the wisdom of this step. Believing, however, that the Hataitai ground is better than none at all, and, moreover, that the surface after the winter rains and top-dressing is likely to be in better order, the centre proposes making its headquarters there again in the coming season. Whether, if the centre has this ground for the 1937-38 season, the results will be any better than they were last season cannot be foreseen with any degree of accuracy at this juncture, but, according to what an official of one of the clubs had to say on the subject today, some doubt exists as to whether the community training scheme adopted by the clubs last season at Hataitai is in the best interests of the clubs and in the long run of the sport as a whole. A DIFFICULT QUESTION. "I recognise that the position is a difficult one," the official said. "Hataitai appears to be the* only ground Wellington athletes can get at the present time, and 1., realise that the sport must have a ground if it is to exist. At the same' time, particularly from the club point of view, I do not think it can be said that Hataitai completely fills the bill.. On the face of things, it would appear that the Hataitai ground is convenient to the athletes for the purpose of training after work in the evenings, but the experience of my club is that this is not so. Last season the numbers we had training there fell away; there was not the same interest, the position being in direct contrast to that which obtained when the club had the use of the Basin Reserve for training purposes, even though, because of practice at the nets by the cricketers, the time we had at our disposal was restricted." NO PROGRESS. He said he had been giving the whole matter consideration and was convinced that the only way to achieve progress was to concentrate on the acquisition of • a centrally-situated ground. At the present time club officials were forced into the position of having to fight hard to keep things going, instead of being able to give consideration to the question of developing activities. The sport was at a standstill and it was largely as a result of the lack of a ground. Officials having a long association with the sport with whom lie had discussed the matter were agreed on this point. They felt that better facilities than the athletes had enjoyed for some years was very desirable as a means of giving encouragement, arousing keen enthusiasm, and bringing the sport back to the plane it occupied in Wellington a few years ago. BUCKLE STREET SITE. The question was, however, the club official continued, where and how another centrally-situated ground could be obtained. He suggested as a suitable site the land at the corner of Buckle Street and Taranaki Street. On this area at the present time, he said, were the Defence Department offices right at the corner, and then in order on the Taranaki Street frontage the old Mount Cook School site, a brick and pipe yard, and a big vacant section which previously was the site of a timber yard. These properties combined, he estimated, would have a frontage of about 300 yards to Taranaki Street and a depth to the bank sloping down from the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum grounds of about 80 or 90 yards. The big sloping bank could be cut away without much difficulty and with the area cleared of the buildings at present standing on it a fine site for a sports centre could be provided. "In the acquisition of this land," he continued, "I suggest that the National Council of Sport and .Recreation which is to be set up could and should play an important part. Money for the purpose could be devoted from the proceeds of art unions. It would not be money wasted, for all who have taken part in athletics and other pastimes know full well the value of sport in developing the individual's mind and body. The athletes, the clubs, and hundreds of sports bodies could .help in making possible such a sports centre, which is badly needed and which I hope will be taken up enthusiastically and pushed ahead until something worth while is accomplished. SPORT AND CULTURE. "I do not suggest that if a ground were constructed in this part of the city it should be for the exclusive use of athletes, but for other sports bodies as well. At present, though, the athletes are crowded out and a good ground in Wellington where they could train and hold sports meetings at regular intervals would'be a boon to.them and the sport; generally. Apart from this advantage, a ground on this site would add much to the attractiveness of the surroundings of the National Art Gallery' and Dominion Museum block. -In short, it would be a sports as •well as a cultural centre."