OPEN SPACES FOR THE YOUNG.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12243, 2 July 1900, Page 2

OPEN SPACES FOR THE YOUNG.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I read -with, a very great deal of pleasure your article on the above subject, and wholly agree with what you say concerning the matter. On Sunday last, it being such a beautiful day I took a long walk through Christchurch and passed through Cranmer Square on. my way to the North Belt. I see there is a notice placed by the City Council prohibiting the playing of games there. Well, anyone who has any love for the young or who takes interest in the welfare should be strongly opposed to their being treated in such a cruel fashion. There are some persons who are pretty old who forget that they were once young, and enjoyed games them- l selves, and had the village greens of the Old Land to play on, for I have heard it ■said there is not a village in England but what has it playground, the Green, dor all to enjoy themselves. Many of the young people in this fair city of ours have not as good a chance of enjoying themselves as the youths cf the old land. They are driven off our squares, as you say, yet you tell us these places were reserved dor such by our thoughtful early settlers. This question, I think, is a very important one, and I sincerely hope yon will keep it prominently before the public. I noticed in another column of your paper that the headmaster - of the East Christchurch School had been alluding to this matter and pointed out that Iris schoolboys and girls had no place to play even a gams of cricket in. Hie pointed out that the West Christchurch, Normal School and Sydenham School children were very lucky in having parks so near to the school, where they could go and play thsir various games. Well, I believe Mr Scott is quite right in making that statement, but I would like to inform him that unless I am much mistaken these very self-same games that are prohibited cu Crammer and Latimer Squares in the city will likewise be debarred on the Sydenham Park, although I under-stood from Mr Jacques (who worked so hard to obtain it for the borough) at the opening ceremony Borne five years ago that the park was a recreation ground for Sydenham. The Sydenham Council have control of the ground, and it only requires a deputation of interested persons to approach this body and a gate is placed for their convenience, and in a very short time there will be as many tracks as there axe in the city squares I have already referred too, and games will be prohibited on the plea that it will be dangerous to those persons who do not wish to use the park an a recreation ground, but merely as a short-cub to their' homes.

While on this subject, I would' like to refer to two members of the Council who seem to be doing their level best to destroy this fine piece of ground. One of them succeeded. in getting a gate fixed at the southwest part .of the Park at the last meeting. Tins will, of course, result in a track being made right across the centre of the playingground, for persons will bo sure to strike straight for the gate, which opens at Colombo Street and Brougham Street. This same Councillor succeeded, some time since, in getting a gate placed at the end of Gordon Street, and persons taking a direct line, mado for the other outlet at the end of Durham Street, so now we will shortly have two tracks right across the centre 'of the Park, and if so, the ground will be rendered entirely useless. One very strong reason for seconding the proposal was that his daughters, who worked at a knitting factory, would be able to take a short cut to their work. Would you believe it, tbe man who is chiefly responsible for 'having these gates placed where they are, to the detriment of the young people of the borough, who will be seriously handicapped in their games, if not altogether prohibited, when these footpaths are once formed, is a member of the Sydenham Bowling Club, who have their own ground in the Park very nicely fenced off and protected from trespassers. Further comment is needless.—l am, etc., OLD SPORT.