NEW BOWLING GREEN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32624, 21 September 1945, Page 5

NEW BOWLING GREEN

(To the Editor.) Sir,— Having read your report of the last meeting of the borough council, I cannot refrain from expressing feelings of disgust at the highhanded reception accorded to the members of various sports bodies who formed the deputation. Councillor Ganley can rest assured that the “propaganda” was by no means as extensive as he chooses to imagine. Had l it been so, my signature would have appeared on the list. The case for the various clubs has been well presented and I have nothing to add in their interests, and as I am not a sportsmian, I do not intend to be dragged into a controversy on

the respective merits of bowls' and cricket. There is, however, another aspect of the matter, which so far has apparently been ignored. Our domain is a beauty spot, in fact the only beauty spot in a singularly drab' and illplanned township. I count myself among that section of the community, which, while not particularly interested in sport, can yet appreciate beauty, on the rare occasions when it can be found. As the proposed alterations must inevitably mar the beauty of the domain, I feel justified in asking His Worship the Mayor one question: Was the domain originally intended to be a place for the recreation and cultural development of the populace generally, or, on the other hand, was it intended to be a bone of contention between various sporting interests. If the latter, by all means hand it over to the interested parties, together with a bill for all development to the club. If the former 'is correct, let the bowlers keep their hands off the domain and pursue their landgrabbing policy in some other* direction. His Worship as Paeroa’s first citizen, has an obligation to safeguard the interests of the community as a whole, rather than an influential few. —I am, etc., H. W. FOWLER.