RESERVE FOR RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18225, 19 October 1922, Page 8

RESERVE FOR RACING.

THE WHANGAREI BILL. OPPOSITION IN COUNCIL. COMPROMISE SUGGESTED. [8* TKUSOJUPK.— SPECIAL REPOBTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. In*the Legislative Council to-day the Hon. W. Earnshaw protested against the proposal embodied in tho Whangarei Borough Leasing Empowering Bill that the borough council should lease a part o c its recreation ground to the racing club. The parts proposed to be fenced Off, said Mr. Earnshaw, were not situated in atiy particular part of the park. They were all round the park; in other words, a race track. The. Bill if passed would practically authorise the lease of the park as a racecourse .for 21 years with a right of renewal for another 21 years. The effect would be to tie up the whole park consisting of 52 acres. He moved as an amendment that the lease should be only for 21 years, without the right of renewal. The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre said the Bill voiced the wishes Of the people of Whangarci. The park had been used a» ( a racecourse for the past 30 years. The only reason for the Bill was because thfc. racing club wished to effect substantial improvements in buildings, etc. The bill authorised the closing of the and the making of a charge for admission on six days in the yoar. Only two days' racing were authorised. There was no objection to the proposal outside the Council. ... The Hon. O. Samuel agreed that this was not a lease to a private syndicate, as the Hon. W. Earnshaw had suggested. A racing club was not a syndicate. The Hon. W. H. Triggs joined in opfoosing the Bill. This was the only public reserve in Whangarei, and was purchased by the borough council 'lot a recreation ground. The laying down of a racing track would prevent the proper laying out of the central portion as a recreation ground. . . The Hon. G. J. Garland, who was in charge of the Bill,' said .he was prepared to accept an amendment which he would submit to the commiittee. He would press for tho second readme: of the Bill. The race track would only occupy ten acres. There would be 42 acres available to the public at all times. The second reading was carried by 19 votes to 6«ven. When the BUI was in committee the Hon. W. J. Geddes asked that tho use of the track for racing and training horses be limited to six days a year. The Hon. T. W. uislop moved that a limit of 20 days for these purposes he imposed. The Hon. J. Harr suggested that a compromise would be to alter clause 2 to make it definite that the race track would only be used for race purposes on six days a year. He would move to that effect if Mr. Hislop's amendment was not taken. The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre said there was nothing in tbe Bill to authorise the training of racehorses, hut it was competent for the borough council and the racing club to come *to terms for the clubs to have racehorses trained in the. early morning. This view was also by the TJnder-Secretarv for Internal Affairs. The Hon. W. j. Geddes held that a compromise was desirable, and the member in charge of the Bill should agree to report progress. - Progress was then reported, Mr. Garland undertaking to give a full explanation of all the clauses at the next sitting to be taken on Tuesday.