THE TOWN BELT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 9

THE TOWN BELT

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —The Town Belt, though administered by the City Council for the time being, in the last resort belongs to the citizens of Dunedin. That being bo, will the chairman of the Reserves Committee answer the following questions:— 1. By what authority has the Kaituna Bowling Club fenced off about one acre and a-half and formed a green in Jubilee Park, thereby rendering useless the limited public playing area in this park? 2. To what extent has the Reserves Department assisted the Kaituna Bowling Club to fence off and form the green? 3. Can the Reserves Department, or even the City Council, hand over portions of the Town Belt to be fenced off by bowling or other private clubs, without consulting the cit-zens of Dunedin? The only playing area in Jubilee'Park which has been formed at some considerable expense and used by lady hockgy players and others, has been calmly handed over, practically for all time, to a private club. The whole position amounts to a public scandal. That portion of the Town Belt called the Asylum Ground was likewise handed over for the special benefit of the High School Board about two years ago. Not only so. but the Reserves Department obligingly presented about 10 chains of iron fencing (which formerly enclosed the Octagon reserves), and also assisted in the re-erection of the fence, so as to keep the vulgar herd from encroaching. The Asylum Ground is now for all time merely an appendage of the High School property. And there are other cases. I trust the new Mayor and Councillors Jones and Silverstone will see to the legal rights of the citizens in connection with the public reserves.—l am, etc.,

H. A. Hamer, 2 Wairoa street, Kaikorai.