WEST HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

Evening Star, Issue 22722, 9 August 1937, Page 12

WEST HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—On reading Tuesday night’s paper I saw a letter forwarded to thecouncil about the rent of Moller Park and also about the length of the grass. Cr Rodger stated that the ground never looked better andi that it was kept in first-class order. a nearby resident to the park 5 and interested in the welfare of the cricket club, J should like to ask Cr Rodger if he has ever seen haycocks on the ground during the last summers. Hay was cut from the ground on two occasions, and I challenge Cr Rodger to deny this fact. This in itse.f proves that the grass on the park grew to a good height. Only on© field was kept cut, and this by the use of two lawn mowers' (supplied by the cricket club) used by two unemployed men two days a week. This field was cut only when weather permitted, and o,n numerous occasions grew to such a height that it

had to be cut with a scythe (also sup> plied by the cricket club). In ite letter the cricket club offered higher rent, and in return the council was to keep the grass cut. In reply,. Cr Page said that the cricketers wanted all their fun at the expense of others. Who are the others, and is it expense when the club offers higher rent? Cr Rodger said that they could not “ spoo.n-feedi ” the cricketers. Is it “ spoon-feeding ” the cricketers to accept an increased rent and'in return cut the grass on the ground? I fail to see what the cricketers are going to gain, except to raise their subscriptions to meet the increase in rent. I also ask Cr Rodger how much the council has spent in the last three summers ? Nothing. Cr Monk had a brainwave. He thought that the cricket club had the Bank of England behind it, and suggested having a motor down from town weekly to cut the grass on Cr Rodger's “ pleasure ground for the whole district,” at the expense of the cricket club. I should say that it is an insult to the club to ask it to foot the bill when it is'the council’s job to cut it, and then set the rent at a figure whicht would be the club’s share. I might suggest £7 10s. There is no doubt that the council sees that the ground will have to be kept cat this summer, and is shuffling in its duty in trying to get the cricket club to keep the ground in order. I might draw attention to the fine arch at the proposed entrance, to the park, and also to the trees which have been planted _ round the park. Compare these improvements with the ground in January, and you-will see waving grass about loin high, if it has not already been cut for hay. There is no doubt that a club of 15 members cannot afford to engage a power mower weekly. In conclusion I might advise the council to keep its one and only park in order and set the rents to cover the expenses. I have often ; heard that the truth hurts, and Cr Rodger’s outburst seems to be a practical I am, etc., Ratxpates. August 9.