LOGAN PARK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23224, 23 June 1937, Page 13

LOGAN PARK

ALLOCATION OF GROUNDS POSITION OF UNIVERSITY CLUBS REPLY TO CITY COUNCIL Commenting on the discussion which arose at the meeting of the City Council on Monday night regarding the allocation of grounds at Logan Park for the University Sports Club, Mr W. J. Mead, on behalf of the Otago University Students' Association, stated last night that the true position was that, in addition to holding the University Oval under lease from the City Council, the University held an option to take during any year a lease of the playing areas which formed the subject of the council's criticism.

An intimation was sent to the City Council on May 7 stating that the University intended exercising this option, Mr Mead said, and, while it was freely admitted that this advice was not given as early as it might have been, it was an exaggeration to state that the application was made halfway through the season. In fact, the Mayor's remarks were calculated to create the impression that the application was made only recently. "The grounds in question," Mr Mead said, "are used exclusively for hockey, and when the University exercises its option to take the grounds, as it did last year and this year, an arrangement has been made, both with the Otago Men's and Women's Hockey Associations, granting them the use of the grounds whenever they require them at the same rental as the University pays to the council."

It was quite untrue to state that by exercising its rights the University had deprived either of these associations of the use of the grounds, Mr Mead continued. Furthermore, the University, in turn, paid ground rents to both Hockey Associations.