SOUTH DUNEDIN STADIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21642, 12 May 1932, Page 8

SOUTH DUNEDIN STADIUM

PURCHASE BY CITY COUNCIL RUGBY LEAGUE’S OFFER ACCEPTED The report of the Finance Committee which was submitted to the City Council at its fortnightly meeting last night, contained the following recommendation: —“That the offer dated May 3 laid on the table, from the Otago Rugby League, to sdll to the council its property in South Dunedin, being part sections 39, 40 and 41, block VII, town district, containing 11 acres 1 rood 2.9 poles, together with all buildings and improvements thereon for the sum of £I2OO, sucli sum to be paid on or before May 31, be and is hereby accepted. The area offered comprises the whole of the league’s property in South Dunedin, including the speedway stadium and all appurtenances thereto. If the offer is accepted the league further stipulates that sundry outstanding accounts due to the council in connection with the ground, totalling £24 8s Id, be written off, and that the league be relieved of liability for rates and land tax for the current year. The proposal has been considered and the property inspected by the Reserves Committee, which concurs with this recommendation.”

The clause was considered apart from the report proper, and in moving that it be adopted, the chairman of the committee (Cr Shacklock) said that the greater proportion of the outstanding accounts was due to the council for electric power poles and wiring. He understood that the league had paid in the neighbourhood of £SOOO for the property. The Mayor (Mr R. S. Black); £SOO per acre. Cr Shacklock went on to say that the public had subscribed the money used for the purchase of the ground, and it seemed only fair that the property should revert to the citizens. The council had been offered the property at a very low price, and if it could be retained as a recreation reserve, it would be a good ground at the southern end of the town. Cr MTndoe expressed the hope that the council would ratify the clause, and explained that the ground, which covered Hi acres, actually cost the Rugby League £OOSO, in addition to which £OSOO had been spent on it in improvements. If it were top-surfaced and the cinder track were turfed to the extreme edges there would bo sufficient area for two full-sized Association football grounds. Moreover, there would still be a good deal of ground available for other sports grounds and an unemployed vegetable-growing scheme. Cr Clark said that the ground was no doubt a very fine recreation reserve. Such a reserve was necessary in the southern portion of the city, and the property under offer was the only area the council was likely to get at a reasonable price. He would not like it to stand as it was at present, but he could visualise it in a few years’ time, as one of the finest sporting reserves in the city. On the outskirts of the stadium there was ample room for other sports grounds, and there was no reason why it should not, in a few years, be as great an asset to the city as Logan Park. The Finance Committee was not at present in a position to give any indication as to the cost of maintenance, but he did not think this would be very great. He was hopeful that the Southern Football Club, which was at present having difficulty with regard to its training ground (Bathgate Park) would see its way clear to transfer to the new ground, as it was difficult to promise that anything could be done with regard to the park for some time to come.

The Mayor said he thought that the council should tender to the Rugby League thanks for its offer, and go out of its way to accept what really amounted to a fine gift. He would like the council to send its best thanks to, the League for its public-spirited action. The clause was adopted.