LOGAN PARK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 14

LOGAN PARK

ALLOCATION OF GROUNDS UNIVERSITY CLUBS CRITICISED Dissatisfaction with the practice attributed to University sports bodies of not applying promptly for grounds that they required at Logan Park was expressed by the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) at the meeting of the City Council last night. The Reserves Committee agreed to investigate the matter and report back to the council.

The Mayor said that this year, for the second in succession, the University sports bodies had not applied for the grounds at Logan Park until half way through the season, and had freed themselves from charges. It was very upsetting to other sports bodies to have grounds allotted to them at the beginning of the year and then have to look for other accommodation half way through the season. The Women’s Hockey Association had lost grounds in that way, and he thought the Reserves Committee should look into the legal position and see whether the University students had the right to expect to be given the grounds in the middle of the season.

Cr Begg said the council had no jurisdiction over the grounds, which were vested in the University Council.

The Mayor; Well, why do they not pay their fees? Cr Begg: They are exempt. The Mayor said he had been informed by the Town Clerk that the grounds were vested in the City Council and leased to the UniversityCouncil.

Cr Batchelor, chairman of the committee, said there had been some “ mix-up ” about the Logan Park grounds. Instances had occurred where University sports bodies had booked the grounds and then, in the middle of the season, had intimated that they did not want them and did not want to pay for them. He thought that this year they had been let to other clubs, and if the University wanted them back again it was very unfair. The committee would go into the matter and report to the council.