GISBORNE WOULD GAIN MUCH FROM A SPORTS CENTRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23028, 19 August 1949, Page 4

GISBORNE WOULD GAIN MUCH FROM A SPORTS CENTRE

The value of a provincial council of sport set up in Gisborne to co-ordinate, rather, than overlap, the promotion of activities designed to improve facilities for the various sporting bodies was emphasised by Mr. D. T. Woodfieid, Wellington. in an interview today.

Questioned concerning the required set-up in a province such as this, Mr. Woodfieid said it would embrace all sporting organisations and show indifference to none. There had been nothing but success in other parts of New Zealand where such a council had been formed. It definitely was a matter of co-ordination. Asked what immediate benefits would be forthcoming from a council of the kind. Mr. Woodfieid said that no matter what the locality there was usually to be found overlapping in the realm of sporting activities, and there were jealousies. These difficulties could be overcome by a combined effort. Application of Subsidies.

In parts of New Zealand where councils of sport were functioning, the officials were most satisfied with the results obtained. Southland had one of the finest community centres in the Dominion. There they had accumulated some thousands of pounds to finance their effort, and recent legislation would qualify them for certain subsidies independent of the fact that the community centre was not in the form of a war memorial. The Government was prepared to subsidise those sporting organisations which were obviously bent on helping themselves. 3 Wellington sporting bodies had been instrumental in organising an .excellent sports centre, he continued.

The centre catered for many forms of sport, including basketball, badminton, table tennis and like forms of indoor sports, and operated seven days a week for the benefit of some 1200 players. The organisations co-operat-ing had their roster of days or nights, and the centre was used throughout the year for . winter and summer sports. Considerable support had been forthcoming from the "Wellington City Council.

"Places the size of Gisborne, if properly organised, probably could reap a greater benefit pro rata than the larger cities because there is a greater interest in community effort in a smaller field,” he said.

"Gisborne would •be an Ideal place in which to build a sports centre,” he added, on reflection.