“DEPLORABLE.”

Franklin Times, Volume 11, Issue 851, 17 July 1923, Page 5

“DEPLORABLE.”

PUKEKGHE TOWN DOMAIN. SUGGESTION TO COUNCIL. ~ A general meeting of the Pukekohe Ratepayers’ Association was held in the Carnival tea rooms on Thursday evening the president, Mr S. J. Ryan, presiding over a fair attendance. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, stated that the representions of the association, regarding the re-adjustment of the railway timetable would be carefully considered, when the position was under review—Received.

The damage to the borough roads by heavy traffic was a subject introduced by the chairman. He pointed out that .as about £16,000 of the £84,000 loan was allocated for the construction of roads, the borough council should decide on some of the roads being put down permanently, either with union asphalt or concrete- Even if only half a mile was constructed in this way it was something.

Mr M. Cronin : Concrete is what we want to aim at.

The chairman : Union asphalt is good. Cr W. S. Russell said that £20,000 of the loan was allocated for roads and contingencies.

Tine chairman said he understood that it would take the whole of this year’s revenue to repair the roads after the extensive damage caused through the recent wet weathei’. Mr Cronin : It would not do it. It was eventually decided to ask Mr J. T. Stembridge to collect data for the purpose of addressing the members at next meeting on the “construction of roads.” The wet state of the recreation ground was brought under the notice of the association by Mr Russell. He thought that the trouble could be obviated if the area was field tiled ploughed and resown in grass. In a Bad State. Mr Rae agreed that the domain was in a bad state. He contended that if anything was decided on as indicated by Mr Russell, it should be done immediately after the present football season. Something needed to be done, as the area in its present state was unsuitable fer athletic

sports. The chairman said it it was decided to put the area down in new grass, the work would have to be undertaken in the autumn, and the football union would have to lose one season thereby. It was useless to soy/ grass in the spring, when a good turf was required. It was estimated that the work would cost between £SOO and £6OO. Mr J. T. Stembridge stated that the domain was tiled drained about

six years ago. It was resolved to write to the Borough Council drawing its attention to the bad state of the domain, and requesting that attention be given to the area used for football purposes, as at present it was in a deplorable condition. It was decided to suggest to the council that a special rate be levied to raise finance to eflecl the necessary improvements. It was also decided to ask the council to erect a light in the dressing shed for the convenience of footballers.