KENSINGTON PARK

Northern Advocate, 1 March 1921, Page 3

KENSINGTON PARK

RENTAL, FOR SPORTS BOROUGH COUNCIL'S DECISION Arising from the agitation to th Whangarei Borough Council to iowe the charge of 10 per cent, on gab takings, a numb'.v of letters fro r< various local bodies concerning charg es made for use of the recrcatioi grounds under their jurisdiction woi'i read at the meeting of the Borougi Council last evening. From these it was shown that a Devonport the recreation reserve \va let free to the cricketers, conditions upon their maintaining the severa wickets, while the outfiokl was kep cut and in order by the Domaii Board.. In winter both grounds wer; let for football purposes and a renta of £7 19s charged to each Chfb fo: use of the playing area for the seas on. * In Hamilton, the Domain Boarc charged 5 per cent, of gatemoney foi ■ local sport 3 meetings and 15 per cenl for outsiders, such as visiting cricket and football teams. No charge was made for any sport; meetings held on the recreatior ground at Woodville. A charge of 25 per cent, of gross gate receipts wa s imposed by the Palmerston North Borough Council when the spoits ground was usart by any local sports association. If however, the gatherings did not turn out successfully financially, application for reduction of the precentage was generally agreed to. No charge was made in Hawera for the use of recreation reserves, although some of the clubs (tennis, ect.) made an annual payment for work done in preparing the grounds for their ovyn particular sports, but that had only been done recently. Charges at Hastings were made according to circumstances, but there was no fixed scale. McLean Park, a freehold property owned by the Napier Borough Council, was let to the Rugby Union, the charge for local matches being onethird of the gate takings, and interprovincial matches £4 4s plus 15 per rent, of gross gate. For ordinary sports gatherings the charges were the same. The Council in return maintained the Park in proper order. Nelson Park at Napier, being a re-ci-eation reserve, the Council had authority to charge for admission on 10 days only each year. When a charge wa s authorised it was £4 4s plus 15 per cent of gross gate takings. The Council maintained the grounds and in winter allowed hockey and football associations the us 9 of the playing ground s al a rental of £10 per ground for the season. Primary schools had fi-ee use of the grounds on certain days, except Saturdays and holidays. In return for the Council maintaining the match wickets, the Cricket Association paid £75 per annum, and a Croquet Club was allowed the use of the croquet lawn maintained by the Council, fer i'-iO per annum. In Auckland exclusive right to uso of the Auckland Domain or Victoria Park is £22 per day. Cricket pitches were rented at £1 per day and 12s 6d per half day, and football costs 15s per senior and 10s for junior match, es. The Mayor moved that the letters be received, but Cr. Pickmere asked what the Council intended to do further, as the question of prices charged would have to be settled; to which the Mayor replied that the charge fixej by the Council for the use of Kensington Park was less than nearly all the others quoted and should be adhered to Cr. Cutf orth ' said he agreed witl] the Mayor's opinion, and Cr. Cartel also wanted the matter to rest on thi basis of 10 per cent as decided bj resolution in January. Cr. Jackson .said he thought that K per cent, on gros s gate takings wai a fair an c ] reasonable charge, anc moved in the direction of confirming the charge. Ci\ Holmes, who inquired first* am ascertained definitely that the sport! bodies would also be loaded with l h< cost of the amusement tax, seconder the motion, which was carried. The Northland Trotting Club which had been charged £10 for us! of the course at the Park last year oi the undertaking to leave it in orde and which Club so far had not beei granted a totalisator permit, askei upon what terms the use of th< course could be had for the meeting in April. When Cr. Jackson suggested that; charge of 15 per cent on gate taking should be levied for the use of th Park for the trotting meeting it wa pointed out that it would be praeti cally a charge for the use of th grandstands only, so he moved tha the charge be 10 per cent, and th motion to that effect was earrie without dissent.