Park Road Golf Course

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 195, 20 August 1935, Page 6

Park Road Golf Course

Municipal Links Idea Turned Down

WORK TO BE DONE AT STANDARD RATES

For the City Council, the proposal to create golf links on the Park road reserve has certainly been productive of a great deal of argument. After all the discussions that have already taken place, Cr. J. Hodgens headed a further two hours’ debate at last evening’s meeting of the council in an endeavour to oust the Palmerston North Golf Club from its contemplated lease oi the reserve in favour of a municipal links, and to get the work done at standard rates of pay. He was successful in the latter only.

First, of all Cr. Hodgens moved that the council proceed with the work of forming and completing municipal goli links.

Cr. Hodgens said he had given the agreement, which the council and club had adopted some consideration, and had found it the most loosely-worded document imaginable. When a reserve was dedicated for a specific purpose, any ratepayer had a right to enter upon it, even to play marbles, and could not be put off. Then again the council proposed to destroy the privilege of the people to use their birthright. The Wellington City Council had municipal links at Berhampore, with a club formed to use the links but acting through the council. Was it not possible to do that in Palmerston North and so retain the rights of the people? Cr. Hodgens quoted from a booklet to show tho extent to which municipal links had been established at Home. Wellington’s venture had been undertaken with misgivings at first but now was a profitable venture. Palmerston North, however, proposed to hand over the new course to an incorporated club. Cr. Hodgens drew attention to tho charges made for playing on the Wellington municipal links, they being considerably cheaper than tho proposed charges on the Park road course. if the club could make a success of the now links, surely the council could do likewise.

. Or. J. T. Heatlcy seconded the motion. He said ho would not bo doing his duty if he cast his vote to hand the reserve over to a club.

The Mayor moved an amendment that added the words “in tho next financial year” and deleting the word •‘municipal.’’ He said his amendment would give the present lessors additional time, but ho was mostly concerned with the finding of money to do the work. He enumerated work that womd make a big demand on the council exchequer —a total of some £4OOO that had been provided for in the estimates. He did not think the ratepayers would approve of expenditure on golf links with the finances strained as they would be. The council would bo well advised, Ik: thought, to hold the matter over till next financial year. As far as finding work for the unemployed was concerned, this would be forthcoming in the flood-prevention scheme the council had in mind in tho northern area of the city. The Mayor added that whatever decision was come to the council would have to be careful, as tho city solicitors had advised that the council was bound to a contract with the golf club by reason of what it had already decided, though not at the moment under the seal of the council. Cr. Tennent seconded the Mayor’s amendment-on getting an assurance that I he links would bo prepared ready to hand over to tho club by April L 1937, as set out in the contract with the Golf Club. Speaking in reply in Cr. Hodgens, Cr. Tennent pointed out. that tiie council could apply to the club for a reduction in the fees to be charged if it was found the 2s Od per round was too much. But he did not think the receipts in Palmerston North would bo anywhere near those at Berhampore because of the smaller population. He fancied the council would bo faced with a loss if it attempted municipal links at West End, Further, the control of a course was much better iu the hands of a club. Again at Bcrhaiupore they used cows and horses to keep the fairways down and he hoped such a procedure would not be adopted in Palmerston North. Cr. Tremaine said he could find no record of Cr. Hodgens opposing the leasing of bowling greens 03 the council to clubs nor a large portion ot' a reserve t.o 1 lie Rugby Union. The speaker pointed out that over a period of 20 years the Wellington City Council had spent £23,701 on Ihe Berhampore links, while receipts had amounted to £17,030. This was a loss of £807.1 without taking into account loss of revenue which would have been secured had tho land been converted to other uses. Crs. W. B. Cameron and J, J. Stevensou spoke in support of the .Mayor’s amendment.

In his reply, Or. Hudgens corrected the statement by Cr. Tremaine that he had not opposed the leasing of othe'. - reserves to sports bod’es. Cr. Tennenf thought Cr. llodgens’ motion out of order m view of the letter from the city solicitors. Cr. llodgens: No notice of motion can be ruled out of order.

The Mayor’s amendment was carried Ors. llodgens and . Heatley dissenting.'

Cr. llodgens thou moved tint Ue work be done at an estimated cost of £1604, the labour to be employed thereon to get standard rates of pay. The Mayor said this matter had been settled by a. letter winch had just come to hand from the certifying ollicer. The Unemployment Boafd had declined the council’s request to use No. 5 labour but in a desire to give tho greatest help possible, it was prepared to nice. 50 per cent, of the labour costs up to 35s per man week provided the work is full time employment at standard rates and only - married men arc engaged. Cr. llodgens urged paying standard