COUNCIL ACQUIRES SPEEDWAY AREA

Evening Star, Issue 21100, 12 May 1932, Page 2

COUNCIL ACQUIRES SPEEDWAY AREA

RUGBY LEAGUE'S OFFER ACCEPTED VALUABLE RECREATION GROUND Lust night’s meeting of the City Council decided to accept tho offer of the Otago Rugby League to sell to the council the Speedway ground in South Dunedin, which is also known as Colossal Park, the price agreed upon being L 1,200 lor tho property and all buildings and improvements contained upon it. Deference was made to tho possibilities of tin’s property as a recreation ground and to the public-spirited action of tho Rugby League in making such a reasonable oiler. It was also suggested by Cr Clark that the Southern Rugby Football Club might be persuaded to transfer from Bathgate Park to the Speedway ground, which, be hoped, would be as big an asset to Dunedin in time as Logan Park was at present. A clause in tho Finance Committee’s report contained tho following recommendation on the subject:— “ That the offer dated May 3 from tile Otago Rugby League to sell to tho council )ts property in South Dunedin, being part sections 39, 40, and 41, block VIL, town district, containing 11 acres 1 rood 2.9 poles, together with all buildings and improvements thereon, for tho sum of £1,200, such sum to be paid on or before May 31, bo accepted. The area offered comprises the whole of th« League’s property in South Dunedin, including the speedway stadium and all appurtenances thereto. If the offer be accepted the League further stipulates that sundry outstanding accounts due to the council in connection with tho ground, totalling £24 8s Id, bo written off, and that the League be relieved of liability for rates and laud tax for tho current year. The proposal has been considered and tho property inspected by the Reserves Committee, which concurs with this recommendation.”

lii moving the adoption of the clause Cr Shaddock said that the accounts, totalling £24, referred to, wore duo to the council for tho erection of electric light poles. The 'League had, he thought, paid £5,00 0 for the property, the money coining from an art union. Cr Clark; The price was £7,550. Cr Shaddock said that tho point was that the mopoy was subscribed by tho public, and it was desirable that such a valuable property should ho kept in tho hands of the public _ which had found the money. The price of £1.200 for tho ground was quite reasonable. If tho ground were retained as a recreation reserve the council would then bo in a position to say what it should bo used for. It would be a very good ground at that end of the town. “ It is a wonderful bargain,” said Cr MHudoe, in seconding tho motion. There had been various guesses as to tho price paid by the League for the ground. The speaker explained that it was actually £550 per acre, and there were 111 acres, so that tho price was £6,050 for tho land alone. Then money had been spent on the stand and £1,500 expended, in raising the ground, the total value of tho improvements being £6,500. There would be sufficient room for two 1 nil-sized Association football fields, and this would certainly relievo the pressure on other grounds. He also mentioned that a portion of tho ground would be of use lor growing vegetables for tho unemployed. Cr Clark said that the Reserves Committee was very strongly in favour of the purchase. He did not think it could be denied that there was need in that densely populated area for some adequate recreation ground, and this was tho only area to bo acquired at a reasonable price. One could visualise what it would be in a few years' time —one of tho finest areas fur sport in the city. There would bo room Tor two full-sized areas for any form of sport in the enclosure, and there wore oilier improvements that were worth many thousands of pounds. It was well drained, and after a considerable amount of rain had fallen was tound to bo perfectly dry. It was doubtful if any other ground in Dunedin was in as good a condition for play as it was under such circumstances. The outer area could be utilised for tho playing of tennis, croquet, bowls, hockey, and basketball, and hi a few years’ time he was hopeful that it would bo as great an asset to tho city as Logan Park was at present. Prom what lie had bec'n told by the superintendent of reserves, ho thought one man would be quite sufficient to keep tho ground in good order once it was all properly prepared. The ground would bo extended a little by turiiug. . " I am very hopeful that the Southern ilugby Football Club, which is in difficulties" with Bathgate Park, will he able to see its way to transfer to this ground,” Cr Clark continued. It was very difficult to make promises to those using Bathgate Park with any certainty of them being carried out, and it would bo much better to provide _ another ground that would bo more satisfactory. The Mayor ((Mr 11. S. Black) said ho thought it should bo made clear to the citizens that this transaction could not bo regarded as an ordinary matter of sale and purchase. The public-spirited action of tho Otago Rugby League in offering this splendid recreation ground at a price which amounted almost to a gift to tho city of tho area and its improvements should not bo overlooked. That tho ground was a most valuable acquisition to tho playing grounds of tho city under tho direct control of the City Council could not bo denied, and despite tho fact that they were morn or less short of money it would bo folly of tho most harmful description to allow tho area to pass into other hands, with tho result that finally it might be lost as a public.recreation ground. Ho thought, therefore, that tho offer to purchase should be gratefully accepted and the best thanks of the council tendered to

the Rugby League for its public-spirited offer, because it was quite clear that the League could have easily obtained a better price for the land from a syndicate of speculators for tho purpose of cutting the land up for building purposes. 'file motion was carried, and it was decided that the council’s thanks ami appreciation ho convoyed to tho Rugby League for its public-spirited action.