PUBLIC PLAYING GROUNDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14223, 20 November 1909, Page 5

PUBLIC PLAYING GROUNDS.

WHAT VICTORIA PARK COSTS.

Some discussion took place in regard to the terms of the lease under which the City Council hold Victoria Park and the relationship of the public to the park. A formal letter was received from the City Council in reply to one from the Harbour Board on the subject. Mr. Napier again mentioned the subject of the cricket pitches, and the case of the young lady who was declined the use of one of them because she would not pay for the use of it. Mr. Bntrican said that not two per cent, of the ratepayers had any idea what Victoria Park was costing them. He had learned from the caretaker that all the children had free and uncontrolled use of the cricket pitches, etc., in the park. In regard to the ladies who had. formed a cricket club, they were not allowed , to use the pitches without paying the fee which all the other clubs paid. This they had refused to do. A fee of £3 was charged for the season for each cricket pitch. As to figures, he would give them some idea of the cost of the park to the public. From the year 1904 to 1909 the receipts from the loan and interest amounted to £10,435 18s 9d, while during the. same years the expenditure on the capital account amounted to £11,078 2s sd, so that they were spending nearly £500 more than they raised: As to the maintenance of the park, during the years 1903-1909 they had received only £656, while the cost of maintenance during the same period had amounted to the large sum of £7890 Is lOd. The annual cost of maintaining the park, including the interest on the loan, was £2050, and the receipts from fees . amounted to £400, so that the park was run at about £1600 a year of a dead loss. „ Mr. Napier criticised the statement of receipts and expenditure which had been submitted by Mr. Entrican, and said no one expected to run parks as a paying concern; no one could tell what was returned in the. good the parks did by providing a place of recreation for the public. Mr. Macfarlane moved, "That in view of the statement made by Mr. Entrican no further action be taken."

This was - carried, members expressing the opinion that the raising of the. Victoria Park question had done good.