NEW AMUSEMENT PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19349, 9 June 1926, Page 14

NEW AMUSEMENT PARK.

t SITE ON THE WATERFRONT. harbour board area given objection to the project. ' DESIRABILITY QUESTIONED. The desirability of the principal features of the amusement park at the Dunedin Exhibition being transferred to Auckland was discussed yesterday- by the Auckland Harbour Board, which had been asked to lease portion of its reclaimed land east of King's Wharf as a site for the scenic railway and other attraction?. The applicants were the Amusement Park Syndicate and the board was asked to lease a block of land between King's J)riva and Haig Street, with street frontages on four sides, and having an area of 2$ acres. The Finance Committee recommended that the area be leased for a period of five years at £2OOO a year, and that the syndicate be given an option to extend tho lease for a further three years at £4OOO a year. - ; The chairman, Mr. H- R. Mackenzie, Inoved the adoption of the recommendation, and Mr. T. B. Clay seconded, Mr. C. G. Macindoe approved the proposal to lease, but questioned whether the board was justified in tying up the land for the additional three years provided fcr in the option. He also felt the rental was extremely low for the area, and said it should be made clear in the lease that the land could be used for amusement purposes only, so that in the event of the .venture not proving a success the syndicate could not sub-lease it. The superintendent, Mr. H. B. Burnett, said the proposed lease would provide that, if the syndicate did not continue to nse the land for the original purpose it would revert back to the board. "Detrimental to Business." Strong objection was taken by Mr. T. Bloodworth to the granting of a lease for the purpose named, as he did not think it a proper use for the board's land. He thought the board should consider not only its own interests but also the effect of such an amusement park placed so close to the principal business section of the city, as it could not be .anything but detrimental to the business interests. He argued that it would not be like an exhibition, which was usually a temporary affair intended to stimulate trade. To establish the park for five or eight .years would mean it would take money that in the ordinary course would go to normal business of the city. • i • .

Another aspect was that if the park remained eight years it would mean that almost one generation of children would grow up under the influence of this amusement park, and this would not be good for them. There might be an opening in Auckland for this; kind of thing, but not right in the city. A suitable island in the gulf might be found. A park erected for a short period might be all right, and would provide, work for a .number of men, but if it remained for live or eight years the city would pay the penalty. A Question ol Revenue.

This view was opposed by Mr. M. H. Wynyard, who said there was no reason why the board should not obtain revenue from land ft did not require at present. He did not think tho enterprise would have any derogatory effect on the community or the general business of the city. It had been suggested' the- city could not support such se enterprise, bu|i that was for the syndicate to determine. In any case, the board would not object-to leasing its land for picture theatres or a dance hall. Be thought the rent proposed waa satisfactory. The chairman said the park would come under the control of the municipal authorities, If the syndicate had decided to bring the attractions to Auckland and the board refused to lease land, it would get a site elsewhere, and the board would lose the revenue.

Mr. Campbell also objected to the leasing of the land for the proposed park, holding that the undertaking was not in the best interests of the city. , Mr. 35- \V.. Inder said that until the new railway station .had been developed the board did not know what the value of its land in the vicinity was going to be, and by leasing it as suggested it would be earning revenue until such time as it knew the real value. The board was trustee for the public, and as it had the land it should rent' it to the best advantage. ' The chairman's motion was carried, Mr. Bloodworth requesting that his dissent be recorded.