RATES ON SPORTS GROUNDS.

Northern Advocate, 19 June 1920, Page 4

RATES ON SPORTS GROUNDS.

A LEAD FOR BOWLERS

REMITTED IN MANY PLACES,

Whangarei bowlers pay rates to the Borough. Council upon the green in Lover's bane, and the following discussion relative to an application which resulted in remission of rates on bowling greens and tennis courts in Palmerston North, makes inter esting reading, as many of ihe claims ,made might be applied to applications for remission of rates in Whangarei. Thodeputation which waited up )n the paimerston .North Council was led by Mr Selfert who said that the* Knew the council had already given a considerable amount of support m connection with sports and particularly with reference to the greens ior the xvianawatu Club. He pointed out nhat a ibig bowling tournament was helld there every year, when a considerable amount of money was spent in the town. (That also applies to Whangarei to a certain extent.) Moreover, it was pointed out that the deputation was not asking the council to do what other borough councils were not doing. T n Invercargill the greens were rent free, and in other places -similar concessions were made.

In Wellington rates amounting to £280 per year on bowling greens were remitted, in Ashburton assistance, was given to the 'bowling culb, while in Invercargill no rates, were imposed.

iGreens were not used for the purpose of making a profit, but rates were so great that men of moderate means were not able to pay the subscription required. The Palmerston North Bowling Club had raised its subscription, and even then had difficulty in financing matters. It would be a calamity if the Palmerston North greens were closed up if only for the reason that they attracted 500 to 600 visitors to the town each

year. The president of the Terrace End Bowling and Tennis >Club said that (the clulb provided what was practically the only ground at that end of the town. They provided sport for young and old, and the sports grounds really (benefited the town generally and were among its beauty isipots. Or. Hodgens said that if any remission in rates was made he would like to see the grounds made available to everybody. The iMayor: You can get a game for a shilling on the Manawatu green. Or. Bryant said that the ibowling tournament was a big advertisement j to the town there having been 70 rinks there at the last tournament from all parts of the North Islanci. The visitors were always well looked after, and Ibowling made for good citizenship and good fellowship. Cr. Oram asked if any other sports clubs in the town had private grounds. The Mayor replied that there were the grounds of the Tennis 'Olub and the -Golf Olub. He thought that they were doing a good deal for sport in Palmerston North, and pointed to t\it provision of the cricket ground and the Manawatu ibowling and croquet greens, and also to the remission of rates on the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's grounds. Eventually it was decided to remit the general rates, amounting to about 4.8 on the Palmerston North howling greens and about <£_ on the Terrace End bowling green and tennis courts. No doulbt harassed secretaries of such Whangarei clubs as those of bowling, tennis and croquet, and the Mairtown Tennis 'Olub, would be glad to have the rates on their properties remitted by the Whangarei Borough 'Council.