THE RECREATION GROUND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10780, 31 May 1911, Page 1

THE RECREATION GROUND.

Till': MINISTERIAL REPLY. ... As the outcome of .the meeting of citizens to decide what form the perinaiicut Coronation' memorial should, take, tlie f<sllo\vmg coiiiinumcation was seiit to the Hon. D. Dnddo, Minister for Internal Affairs: —- 26th May, 1011. • The tlon. the Minister of Internal Affairs, Wellington. Dear Sir, —Accompanying this letter I ;..'iul you-copy-of a-resolution passed tm ihe 23id instant at a public meeting i,.;;v (-iK fl bv the- Mayor and held Town' fclall, Oamaru. Tlio Mayor was unable, through indisposition, to at- ; lend, and I was appointed chairman by L!i3meeting, iii his place. 11l pursu;u!ie of the expressed desire of the meeting (which is in complete Accordance with my own wish and opinion)'! bog to urge" most strongly u]Jpn the Government the extreme desirability and .expediency of acceding to'thefyery reasonable' request embodied ill the solution, and of promising that as s'oon as' the Government is officially informed (say bv the Mayor) that-the necessary sum of £250 has been subscribed or sufficiently secured, and 'the initial'ceremony witlr'regard to;' the liecfeation Park and Pavilion has been performed,' the ; subsidy of £250 will "be available'.'

' The g'rotinds upon which'l urge tbis vievy upon the Government are a:s follows": •

1. The public , mooting at wilich t,lie ' resolution was passed was.well attended and was representative of all classes of the community'." TH6' resolution was supported' by tfie Hon." T. Y. Duncan (the member for the town), by the Hon. George Jones, i\I.L.C., and by Mr Diihcati Sutherland ' (Chairman' 'of ' the C.ouritv Council), and other leading "citizens,' and was carried' unanimously. -" "2. Great" disappointment and dissatis-: faction Were expressed by the fncet--ing'at that part of the telegram received by tlie Hoff. T. V. Piincaii, in which the Government- declined to grant the subsidy towards; the establishment and' formation of a Recreation Park alone; but' it was felt that the Government by inviting nstosend forward a modified; proposal was expressing; its intention to meet our views to any reasonable extent. 3. The resolution, by including the erection of a pavilion as part of the scheme., is modifying the former proposal (for the establishment and formation of a Recreation Park alone) in such a way as, we think; certainly ought to satisfy the' 'desires' of the Government. 1 .. 4. The erection of a pavilion conies well within the class of objects which the Government has already esnressSed its willingness to siiblidise.aud the fact that the establishment and formation of a Recreation Park is a part of the scheme, surely onglit not to be advanced as a reason for withholding «iii)port. AVould not the adoption. "-of such a course have the' appearance of seeking a pretext for withholding the subsidy? Trusting that I may receive an early and favorable reply

I have the honor to be Your obedient servant,IIoBT. MILT/TGAN, Chairman. '£o this the Minister replied as follows: — / AVellingtori, May 30, 1911.!!i<bf. Milligan, Esq., Oamani. In reply to further representation regarding Coronation subsidy for pavilion and imp'rovement of athletic park, I have to advise/ you tlmt Government lias carefully considered the application. and approves of subsidy for .the vilion. With "regard to application for subsidy for improvement of park, I shall be pleased to consider the same when estimates are being prepared for Parliament. D. Buddo.