IMPERIAL TROOPS COMMITTEE AND THE CRICKET GROUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11619, 5 April 1901, Page 5

IMPERIAL TROOPS COMMITTEE AND THE CRICKET GROUND.

DISCUSSION AT THE CITY COUNCIL. At the meeting of the City Council last night, the Cricket Ground Committee reported as follows:—"lmperial Troops' Reception Committee, asking the Council to remit the charge for the use of the ground ps the-.; day of. the -Imperial > troops' recopHon: Your committee is unable to grant the request."

The Mayor invited discussion on the matter. He thought it should bo determined one, way or the other, as the Imperial Troops' Reception Committee would meet next week.

Mr. A. J. Ent.rican thought that the Reception Committee should pay something, The Cricket Ground had suffered severely, and had cost something to do up. Ho moved as an amendment, "That they be charged £10 10s."

Mr. J. Patterson (Karangahape) seconded. Mr. K. Salmon supported the amendment. Mr. Tudehopo pointed out that the Roception Committee had paid an amount for the cleaning up of the ground, so that that could not be laid to their charge. The Cricket Ground Committee had been put to no expense. Mr. A. Kidd asked whether they could legally make a. charge. The Mayor said ho was not quite sure upon the point. Mr. J. H. Hannah did not see why the Council should forfeit their rights in the matter.

Mr. Hewson thought that if they opened the door in this way, they would have to open it very wide. They would be pestered with applications for refunds whenever there was a loss on any function held on the Cricket Ground. The committee had been struggling to get the Cricket Ground out of debt, and had done so, and now they were trying to make it a credit "to the city. They needed all the funds they could get. The Mayor raKiinded councillors that the very committee they were proposing to charge had decided to donate £25 towards the band fund. He thought it would be moregraceful to forego the £17. Mr. Entrican's amendment was put and lost. ••

Mi. Kidd then moved, "That no charge be made." He said that the clay had been a record one in the history of New Zealand, and surely they would not mar it by upholding this charge. He thought it would bo only just to remit it. Mr. F. E. Baume seconded. Messrs. Entrican and Salmon, supported the amendment, explaining that they were unaware that tlio Reception Committee had paid lor the cleaning up of the ground. The amendment, on being put, was lost. Mr. Kidd called for a division, which was taken, the voting being as follows: For the amendment: Messrs. Salmon, Tudehope, Kidd, Baume, Hannan, Parr, and Court. Against: Messrs. Patterson, .Tamieson, Farrell, Grey. Atkin, Aickin, Hewson, Stichbury, and Patterson. The report of the committee was then adopted. ________