REMUERA SPORTS ABEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17110, 15 March 1919, Page 10

REMUERA SPORTS ABEA.

COUNSEL AND TRUSTEES,

QUESTION OF RETENTION. MAYOR REVIEWS POSITION.

A deputation representing hockey and other sports interests waited upon the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, yesterday morning relative to a statement made at a meeting of Remuera ratepayers on the previous evening to the effect that the City Council had undertaken to intervene in the event of any steps being taken to subdivide the hockey ground leased by tho sports bodies from the Dilworth Trust Board. The Mayor pointed out that tho statement was quito contrary to fact. This i was a question, he said, as regards winch thero must bo the utmost frankness. He could only say again, on behalf of the council, that it could not see its way to acquire the property on the terms tho trustees suggested, namely, the full market price. The matter must end there, unless the board was prepared to recognise tho peouliur circumstances attaching to tho ground as a recreation area, having regard to the revenuo it has produced, and to make a reasonable offer to tho council. These were the only terms on which the council would be justified in asking the ratepayers to sanction the purchase of the property. The Mayor said that the Dilworth Trust Board's contention as to the duties of its truat were, from the council's standpoint, sufficiently answered by the fact • that i many years ago the ground was set aside . by the board for recreation purpoocs on ' reasonable terms. There appeared to be no reason now why that policy should bo abandoned. After all said and done, l these ereat trusts were not individual matI ters. but, with due regard to obligations I which the Dilworth Board appeared to I have met, had always in the past been I held in the public interests. It was the i public who had made the 'value of these I areas, and that should be duly considered, I particularly by a trust holding such large interests in tho city and suburbs. He explained tho posHion fully to the deputation, and assured it of the sympathy and support of the council in any practical proposal. The deputation expressed satisfaction that the nolicy of the council, as outlined I by Mr. Gunson, was perfectly justified.

PLAYING GROUND INTACT. NO SCHEME OF INTERFERENCE. There is no intention at present on the part of the Dilworth Trust Board to subdivide the Remuera hockey ground for building purposes, according to information elicited by inquiries yesterday. A statement was made at the meeting of Remuera ratepayers on Thursday that the frontages to the land had recently been cut up into sections. The position is that the Dilworth Trust Board his already given the hockey club and King's College Board of Governors a lease of trio ground, and the only portion cut uo is the frontage to Omahu Road, which, it is stated, has never been used by sports clubs. Tho croquet and tennis, clubs have each renewed their leased, and an endeavour is , being made to retain the ground for the I use of sports clubs.