RECREATION GROUND FOR ST ALBANS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12425, 14 February 1901, Page 2

RECREATION GROUND FOR ST ALBANS.

'A public meeting was held in St Matthew’s Schoolroom last evening, to consider the question of a recreation ground for St Albans. There was a fair attendance, and Mr T. H. Davey (Mayor of St- Albans) presided. ,The Chairman opened the meeting with ’brief sketch of what had previously been done with regard to a recreation ground. The Government had been communicated with, to see whether it would grant a subsidy, but the Minister of Lands had replied that till# could not be done. Yet- a ground was a necessity, and something must be done soon, as the expense would be greater ©very day. Councillor Newton, of the Borough Council, said it was very necessary indeed) that a recreation ground should be obtained. The other boroughs all had their grounds, and St Albans was growing at a great pace. He moved —“ That, in the opinion' of this meeting, it- is desirable to secure a suitable piece of ground, in as central a. position as possible for a recreation ground for the people of St Albans, and that every effort should be made to obtain a subsidy from the Government.”

Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., seconded the motion. He pointed out that, since the ground was undoubtedly a necessity, it would be folly to put off the question. Every day the cost of obtaining a ground would be increasing. As for the necessary money, the total debt of the borough was only £21,048, while the ratable value was £672,642. Supposing the borough borrowed £2OOO to buy the land, the interest on this would be £BO a year at 4 per cent, which would be met by a rate of only 1-32 of a penny in the pound. Surely nobody would object to that. He himself would do his very best with the Government to obtain a subsidy, and he thought it would be obtained. . Other boroughs had got their subsidies, and St Albans should not be treated differently. Tire Rev W. Hoggin, representing the Children’s Aid Society, said that, while he had no doubt the money would be no difficulty, he did not think that- should be the main consideration. London had not- hesitated to spend enormous sums on parks, because tbe public considered that parks were necessary. In other parts of the world the same t-lu-ng was being done, and St Albans should not be left behind.

Mr W. W. Collins, M.H.R., also spoke. He considered it an absolute duty for St Albans to obtain a recreation ground, not only' in the interests of the children of today, although they needed it badly enough, but also in the interests of the children of the future. ’Christchurch was growing at a tremendous pace, and twenty-five. years hence, not only would it be very much more difficult, perhaps impossible, to obtain the land, but the need would be infinitely greatr er. The meeting, had been called partly in order to show the Government that the people of St Albans considered they had a right to better treatment, and he had no doubt the efforts of the promoters would be crowned with success.

Mr Chaplin said he considered some definite proposal should be placed before the ratepayers. He would not like- to see them landed with another muddled loan. He proceeded then to ask that the River Road should be opened to the people, and to criticise the Borough Council. The Chairman, after several times asking the speaker to keep to the subject, asked him to sir, down, and said that Mr Chaplin was always interrupting meetings with such speeches.' He deserved to be given in charge. Mr Chaplin sat down. The motion was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously amidst applause. Councillor Anderson then moved—“ That the following committee'- should be appointed, to take any steps they may think necessary to carry out the wishes of -the meeting, viz. Messrs Newton, Neate, R. Smith,° J. Jowsey, T. Gordon, Glass and two members of the Childrens’s Aid Society, and the Mayor, and to report again to the public.” Mr Chaplin suggested that the committee should also enquire into the matter of the River Road. The motion was then seconded and carried. ■ Mr G. Capper spoke at some length on the object of the meeting, and urged the audience to keep -the ball rolling. The meeting, closed with a vote of thanks to the conveners.