ENCOURAGING SPORT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 192, 15 July 1939, Page 10

ENCOURAGING SPORT

SHOWGROUNDS PROJECT. GYAINASIUM PROPOSAL. About forty delegates from various sports organisations in the city on Thursday, attended a meeting called by the district committee of National Physical AYolfare find Recreation to discuss tho adaptation of existing facilities to further the recreational interests of the district, tho chairman of the committee (Air A. E. Alansford) presiding. The Showgrounds buildings were examined as tho first and main objective, and it was do-, aided to apply to tho Minister ol Internal Affairs (Hon. AV. E. Parry) seeking a grant for the establishment and full equipment of a gymnasium there. A sub-committee was set up to act with the standing committee in the examination and furtherance of the proposals now in hand. | In opening tho meeting,’ the chair-, man said that it had been called in order to enable a survey to be made of the requirements of recreation interests in the city and district. A sug-| gestion bad been made that indoor, sport could be centralised in the Showgrounds buildings. There was a very large space available there —up to 50 000 square feet—which, with certain alterations, could be made available. It would be necessary, however, to know to what service the space was to he put l>v those who wished to avail themselves of the facilities. To that end the various sports bodies ill the city and district, numbering about j 50 in all, had been circularised. The : object in sending out flic circular had. been to ensure that there would be no sports bodies missed. For those clubs which did not require gymna-l sium facilities there might lie other I amenities provided elsewhere, lie) suggested these bodies which were in-! forested in tbo development of the ] Showgrounds buildings appoint delegates to form a committee to examine and further such a project. In a. general discussion the provision of a gymnasium was mentioned and AH J. A. Nash asked whether an indoor grassed bowling green would be considered. The chairman advanced the view that this would be but a sectional attraction. He suggested that tho first objective, at any rate, be one embracing several sports. All* A. AL Qngloy, who had examined the Showgrounds facilities in company with ATr AV. A." Nichols as a sub-committee from the original committee, said the recommendation was for the setting up of a gymnasium. Mr AAL A. Jacques said the Association football clubs could use a gymnasium and training hall on at least two nights a week. The chairman thought the meeting would be advised to concentrate on one point, say, a properly equipped gymnasium. ‘Afr L. V. AYin ks said the members of the Bth Battery were very much interested in the establishment of a gymnasium. Air H. G. Should* moved that a properly equipped gymnasium be established. and tliis was seconded by Air H. G. Carpenter. For the Palmerston North Bad-] minton Club. All* P. B. Davidson said tho club could offer £IOO for the five playing months of the year if the roof of the hall were lifted to a height of 40 feet. AAhth proper facilities, the club (now having a membership of 100) would later have a membership of 300. In the Alanawatu Badminton Association there were 320 members. Air Davidson queried whether, in the event of improvements being carried out at the Showgrounds, would I the sports bodies have to relinquish their tenancy of the buildings for a month or so each winter. The chairman said that matter would lie controlled by the amount of money tlie committee would have available. If they had sufficient to build a proper gvmnasium that would belong to the city or to anv other body controlling it. the building would bo available all the time. Alt* Ongley commented that if the Showgrounds buildings were used the sports bodies concerned would have to he prepared to vacate them each year for a fortnight or three weeks. The following were the members of the sub-committee set up to further the gymnasium proposal: Alessrs H. G. Sliouler (Association football), C. Stagpoole (cycling interests), G. AA'atchorn (boxing and wrestling), L. A r . AA'inks (Bth. Battery), and A. S. Coates (athletic interests).