THE “LUNGS” OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 7

THE “LUNGS” OF WELLINGTON

A circular letter, -which has considerable importance in regard to the provision of recreation grounds in and around Wellington, has been sent by Mr F. G. Bolton, the Mayor of Eastbourne, to the secretary of the Wellington Hockey Association and to the following athletic sports clubs:—The Wellington Wednesday Hockey Association, the Wellington Rugby Union, the Wellington Football Association, the, Australian Football League, the Wellington Cricket Association, the Wellington Wednesday Cricket Association, the Lacrosse Association, the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association, the Wellington Ladies’ Hockey Association. and tho Wellington Amateur Athletic Association. ■ '

Mr Bolton points out that as the scarcity of playing grounds is becoming dtily more acute, there is need for something being done in tho matter as soon as possible. Ho says that Wellington city ■has recently permitted itself to lose control of the Hutt Park, one of tho largest reserves near Wellington, which was originally vested in trustees for the use of the inhabitants of Wellington and district. This park' contains 109 acres of freehold, and also a certain amount of leasehold, land. At present it is somewhat difficult of access; but upon the completion of tho new bridge over the Hutt river, and when an electric tramway is constructed from Petone railway station to the grounds, they will be easily reached, and should for many years prove sufficient for all sports’ requirements. Mr Bolton goes on to say: "An Act was passed in the dying days of last session, vesting this land in ‘a standing committee appointed by tho councils of Petone, Lower Hutt, and Eastbourne Boroughs, with the ■ right to exercise all powers, vested in local bodies in respect of reserves for recreation purEoses. The Bill was originally promoted y the Petone and Lower Hutt Bor-, oughs, but at the last moment I, ‘as Mayor of Eastbourne, insisted upon the Eastbourne Borough being included as ono of tho governing bodies, and to prevent the Bill being endangered this was agreed to by the promoters. The Wellington city members do not appear to Mwe noted tho passage of the Bill, and Wellington is at tho present time divested of all control over the park. Fortunately, however, the machinery clauses of the Bill were all struck out, •and it will no doubt be necessary for the committee to obtain further statutory powers. This letter is written for

tho purpose of enabling your association to bring pro-sure to bear upon the city authorities and the city members to 'hare -he Act amended by the control being vested in Wellington city, in addition to the surrounding boroughs. I have consulted several members of the Eastbourne Borough Council, and feel sure that that council would take no objection, as there is room end to spare for all, and the possible opposition by Petone and the Hutt to any such amendment would, I think, be unavailing, in view of the fact that Parliament has clearly made a mistake in vesting the control in the enburlAm boroughs and ignoring the city. Another reason for immediate action is that the committee contemplate giving tho Hutt Golf Club a lease of the park, on certain conditions, for a term of five years, although the golf club’s present lease is believed to bo invalid. Whilst desiring to see all forms of sport encouraged, I do not think it right .that any one particular sport should have any form of exclusive control of the ground, and thus possibly shut out other sporting bodies.”