VICTORIA PARK

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1935, Page 2

VICTORIA PARK

As a Camping Ground COMPLAINT BY CHRISTCHURCH MOTORIST. As expressed by one member 44 It is surprising how much trouble one disgruntled man can cause,” for the Greymouth Branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association has certainly been put to a great deal of trouble through a recent paragraph in a Christchurch paper. The paragraph in question was in the form of an interview with. Mr. H. W. Bullivant, of Christchurch, who had just completed a motor tour of Nelson, Blenheim and Westland. In the course of the interview he stated, 44 In practically every instance he found the motoring camping grounds to be in excellent order, but said that he had never experienced anything quite so disgraceful as al Greymouth. The camping ground there was in a very untidy state, and in its present condition he would not advise motorists to camp there. The cookhouse was a dilapidated shed and there was so much filth lying about that he for one would not like to cook in it. The shed would not be so bad if it were clean. The conveniences were even worse. He thought that now that the holidays ■were approaching something should be done to improve the site, for no doubt many motorists would be visiting the West Coast. ’ ’

Following on the publication of the above the Secretary of the Greymouth Automobile Association (Mr. W. F. Harley) received the following telegram .from the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Fletcher Telford): 44Adverse newspaper comment here regarding condition cook house and sanitary conveniences Victoria Park. Please take immediate steps rectify any adverse conditions existing and wire me position.” To which Mr. Harley replied as follows: 44 Have visited Park, everything sanitary. Considering different location camp under our control. 1 ’ In the meantime a letter was received by the Association from Mr. H. W. Kitchingham (President of the Greymouth Trotting Club), stating that the Caretaker emphatically denied rhe charges made by Mr. Bullivant, and that recent campers on the Park ex pressed their satisfaction with it. Under the original arrangement, made at the request of the Automobile Association, the Trotting Club declined to spend any money on improving the shed. It had been suggested on several occasions that the Association should make the shed', originally used as a tool shed, more suitable, but noth ing had been done. Tn his desire to assist campers the Caretaker had done things he was not authorised to do, and campers hud been allowed to use other Park buildings, enjoying privileges far beyond those originally arranged for. and generally speaking the campers had realised that they were wejl treated, and no complaints had been made previously. If the caretaker was to be attacked every time a disgruntled member of the Automobile Association (who probably expects first class hotel accommodation at doss house price) thought fit, then the sooner the terms of the arrangement be emphatically impressed upon members bf the Association, the better. He (Mr. Kitchingham), intended bringing the matter before the next meeting of the Trotting Club Committee, and proposed to move that unless the Association were prepared to put the shed into such a condition as to satisfy campers, the existing arrangement be cancelled. Tn conclusion, the letter pointed out that some campers themselves were untidy and made more work for the caretaker, while if the present complaint had been made to the Club Officials or the local officers of the Automobile Association, it could have been looked into at the time, and no doubt anything requiring remedying could have been attended to. Letters regarding the camp also passed between the local Medical Officer (Mr. T. E. Schon), the Grey Branch, and the Canterbury Automobile Association.

In his report to the Medical Officer of Health. Christchurch, Mr. Schou dealt with the fact that the drains were rot trapped. He said that he disagreed with Mr. Bullivant as to me filthy condition of the cookhouse, but he certainly thought the building could be made more sanitary. The Trotting Club had said that they were not in a position to carry out any work on tin* building, and he (Mr. Schon) suggested that if the Automobile Association were not prepared to do the work, the Trotting Club be notified to discontinue using their grounds and building as a camping ground.

The matter was discussed at length at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Committee of the Greymouth Branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association. The Chairman (Mr. G. R. Har ker) said that the matter had been gone into pretty fully, and the question arose as to whether the Association should continue with the camp at Victoria Park, or find a site elsewhere. The Rugby Union were prepared to have them go to Rugby Park, but lie did not think that they should leave the Trotting Park if suitable arrangements could be made. Another suggestion had been that a public camping ground be established on the ground that had recently been cleared at the south end of the Cobden bridge. Dr. W. McKay said that the football season included several of thgood months, and it would be difficult for the Rugby Union if there were people camped on the ground when football was being played. Tn reply to Mr. H. C. Garde, the secretary (Mr. Harley), said that the fee payable by campers to the Trotting Club was 2/6 for the first night and 1/- thereafter. About 50 per cent, of the people who used the ground were not members of the Association. Mr. Garde: The fees are reasonable, but some people want hotel accommodation for 1/- a night. The Secretary said that the camping ground was not a hotel. The shed was used for boiling water, washing up, and for a wash basin. The Association had supplied the rings for the gas. Because the shed was used for boiling wnter it was not necessary to have it lined, and it appeared quite sanitary and suitable for the purpose. Mr. Garde: Are we prepared to make any alterations for the benefit of our members?

The Secretary: We spend money and get nothing except for our members.

Mr. P. C. Heaphy said that, as a member of the Trotting Club, he knew that they would welcome the removal of the campers. There had been trouble through the caretaker giving the campers more privileges than he was entitled to do. The number of campers who expressed thanks for the way they had been treated and ap-

preciation of the ground was remarkable, and at the same time he (Mr. Heaphy) thought that Mr. Bullivant had some cause for complaint. Immediately under the gas rings it was certainly a bit untidy, but it was not the duty of the Caretaker to clean up after the campers. Certainly there were no conveniences, for all that the Association had provided were the gas rings. He thought that showers were a necessity. It was only in a public spirit that the arrangement had been entered into by the Trotting Club, and he thought that the Association should make the best of it. The fact that everything had previously gone well made it all the more surprising that one man could cause all the present trouble.

Mr. F .Stent suggested that an extra 6d levy on the campers could be given to the Caretaker, for cleaning up. Mr. Heaphy: It would be too difficult to collect.

Mr. Garde suggested that the use of the camping ground could be limited to members of the Association. The Chairman said that in the North Island camping grounds non-members were charged a shilling a day extra.

Mr. Heaphy said that the Trotting Club had no objection to the camping ground remaining at the Park, as long as there were no more similar com plaints.

c Dr. W McKay said that the Trotting Club had treated the Association well

in the past, and if they continued to do so, the Association meet them in the direction of subsidy to the Caretaker, and going fifty-fifty with any little improvements. They had either to have a ground worthy of the Association, or nothing at all.

In reply to a question. Mr. Heaphy said that the Trotting Club received about £"2O a year in fees from the campers,' but the gas account had to be paid out of that. The shed complained about had originally been built as a kitchen and then it was used as a toolshed. The Association had fixed it up, and put in five gas rings, but it Was certainly rough. Not a shilling had been spent on it at anytime, by anyone. The Chairman said that the Secretary had already replied to Mr. Bullivant’s complaint. The building certainly did not compare with those at other places and the Association might be able to put up something presentable at Victoria Park. That was what the Association was for.

Mr. Heaphy said that he thought £3O or £4O would put the shed in firstclass order.

The Chairman moved that a sub-com-mittee consisting of Dr. McKay, Mr. Heaphy, the Secretary, and himself, interview an architect regarding improvements to the camping building at Victoria Park.

The motion was seconded by Captain E. D. Iles and carried.