PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10849, 15 March 1921, Page 6

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

MOREI ABOUT FOOTBALL FLAYING AREA. An ordinary meeting of the Fetone Borough Council was held last evening. The ALayor (Mr J. W. McEwan) presided and the other members of the council present wereCouncillors C". F. Brocklebank, J. Churchouee, J. Kyle. W. Hay, A. Anderson, D. Bedingfield, G. Cook, and E. Tovey. Permission was granted the proprietors of the Grand and Empire Theatres to screen a programme of pictures on Good Friday provided the charge for admission was not increaseu and the class of picture® to be shown was approved by

the council's officials. An application was made by tho League Football Club for the use of a ground on Easter Saturday to play a junior game against a team from H.M.S. Chatham. The Football Association also applied for the use of a ground for the same day. No. 2 ground, on the recreation ground, was granted tho League Association, and No. 4 to the Football Association. A resident complained that the borough plumbers had removed a drain, without permission, on his property, and to being overcharged for material used in connecting his premises with the sewerage system. Councillor Brocklebank and Cook were appointed to go into and report on the matter, and, it found advisable, to make an adjustment. RUGBY ▼. LEAGUE. Councillor Brockelbank moved “That tho resolution passed at th© council meeting held on February 28th, 1921, adopting a report of the reserves committee alloting the playing grounds upon the recreation ground for the ensuing season, be rescinded.'* ... Councillor Brockelbank said ne brought the matter forward in the hope that a possible injustice to the town might be avoided. The grounds had been allotted, and if the motion was not rescinded it was apparent that the Uugbv Union would not use the ground on the local reserve. Last year the council received JZ I2S from the Rugby Union, which this year hod offered tho council the whole of the gate money provided it was riven a reasonable use of the grounds. The action of the council ivhereby tho local Rugby Football Club was denied the use of the ground was io deny residents the sport which they like best and supported most. Tho I’etone Football Club had been the only football club which had advertised the town. Since th© club bad been in ©xLtfncv tho funds of tho council had been augmented to the extent of *£2ooo,

and it was a retrigrad© step to prevent the ratepayers from having that which they most desire. Councillor Brocklebank seconded the motion. Councillor Anderson said that if the Rugby Union did not intend to us© the ground it was no use considering the motion. Personally he thought the League and Rugby Union would come to some arrangement whereby each would have a Rood .ground to play upon. Th© Fetone Football Club had been before the public for many years, and deserved consideration, but at the same time there were a number of young men who did not belong to the Fetone Club, and who desired to play football; they also had to bo considered. The council should improve the grounds and increase them so that all could play. Councillor Chnrchouse said tho name Pet one Football Club was famous throughout New Zealand, but he did not think that the Rugby Union should fce given in to like a spoilt child. Councillor Cook did mot support the rescinding of the former motion. He added that the council had done its best with, the groulids at its disposal. Councillor Tovey said he was sorry to hear that there was a likelihood of tho local Rugby club team not playing on the Fetone grounds. It would be a retrograde step if the Fetone Club gave in to the Rugby Union, and did. not play on the local grounds. The club had brought honour to the town and the citizens were proud of it, but to object to play on the same reserve with men who they had fought side by side with in the Great War was not true citizenship, and if earned into effect would be ij:- moans of .the Fetone Club losing the liigl standing that it deserverly tioilis. The Mayor said that if some arrangement was come to between the Rugby Union and the League the motion which has been passed would have to be rescinded. Tho motion was lost by five votes to four. Those in favour of it were: The Mayor, and Councillors Brocklebank, Hay and Bedingfield, and Councillors Chiirchousc, Kyle. Anderson, Cook, and Tovey wore against it. OFFICIAL REPORTS. The borough engineer (Mr A. Come) reported that the usual routine work had been oarried out during February, and the tarring of tlie Hutt road between tlie railway station and railway crossing had been completed; a good, deal of filling in bad been accomplished on No. 2 recreation ground, and levels taken for the laying of drains to carry surface water away during wet weather. Owing to the ifature of the subsoil it was doubtful if the proposed drain would

have the desired effect unless the whole of the ground wae regraded. Th© length of the drain would be 240 feet and th© estimated cost .£6O. At Koro Koro road channels were being cleaned out and the street lamps repaired. Mr W. 33. Gough (borough sanitary inspector) reported that he had inspected 129 premises during February. In Victoria street lie found a section, on. which several horses were kept, to be in a dirty and insanitary condition. A soap works were also found to be unsatisfactory, and a dwelling in Nelson street was so insanitary that it was not fit for occupation. The owner© of the premises where sanitary defects were found have been notified that repail's had to be effected.