CONCESSIONS TO BOWLERS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1560, 16 June 1920, Page 5

CONCESSIONS TO BOWLERS

AX ANDIATED DEBATE. At the Borough Council meeting lust night Cr Crabb reported ou the meeting of North Street bowlers, at which it had been decided to ask the Council to allow the use of the grounds for £l5O per year.—Cr Spooner said the work required cotnd not be done for anything like £l5O per year. A better arrangement would be for the Council to form the greens and the club to engage its own custodian. There would always be friction under the dual control of the playing areas.—Cr Hodgens thought it a remarkable thing that another club was to be formed after the deputation which had waited on the Council at its last meeting and as the result of which the Council had remitted the general rates to two clubs, with a possibility of a tennis club approaching the Council at a later date. It was a question whether about £SO per year would not be remitted if all such requests were grunted. They were now suggesting that another club, which would take members away from the existing clubs, should be formed. His opinion was that there was only one sport getting consideration from the municipality. He urged that the time was approaching when the Council would have to face the provision of amusements for the children, such as swings, paddling places, and so on. —The Mayor: We know that. —Cr Hodgens: Why not do it then?— The Mayor: We will do it. — Cr Hodgens: I am opposed to this absolutely, knowing how much the. bowling green in Fitzherbert Street has cost the Council. He moved that nothing be done in the matter meanwhile. —Cr Crabb: If ever there was a case when people were unjust and ungrateful it is the Manawatu Bowling Club, and to come here and state that they have not been fairly treated is to add insult to injury. As long as 1 am chairman of the Reserves Committee, I shall oppose the control of the Council’s greens going out of the hands of the Council. Councillors had seen the arrangement made between the Council and the Manawatu Club, and when they came there and waxed indignant, they were late in expressing their opinion.—Cr Hodgens: i don't think Cr. Crabb had any delusion in his mind as to where I was on the subject. I have opposed it right through the piece. He asked if the Manawatu Club was paying its way?—Cr. Crabb explained that the Council was not making money on the proposition, as it had made the price too low, and had to spend the revenue on the construction of croquet lawns. The Club paid £165 per year in accordance with their agreement. —Cr. Spooner said the agreement provided that the Club should pay a certain rent for the pavilion and grounds, and they had even promised that the grounds and pavilion would be completed in a short time. They had waited two years and paid for the accommodation, but had not had it. — The Mayor: We have treated the Manawatu Club very handsomely, and no one knows it better than you do.— Cr. Spooner: The Club has treated the Council handsomely. — The Mayor: Oh, no! I don’t agree with you. You go rlown to the green and tind everything in apple-pie order. We have to show consideration to the chairman of the reserves committee. I have opposed him myself somewhat in the interests of the Club. You 1 have to remember the Council’s finances. —This closed the subject.