"SCANDALOUS SHAME”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23542, 4 July 1938, Page 4

"SCANDALOUS SHAME”

THE CALEDONIAN GROUND £DUCATION BOARD S PROPOSAL EMPHATIC PROTEST BY BOWLERS "A scandalous shame ” was the description which one member of the St. Kilda Bowling Club employed to register his emphatic protest against the proposal of the Otago Education Board to acquire portion of the Caledonian Ground for the purpose of erecting a school. To take away the Caledonian Ground from the people of Dunedin, he said, would be to remove a valuable asset in the future and it would also spoil many old and fine traditions. There were other suitable areas where the Education Board could secure sites for their purpose, it was stated, and outside recreation was equally as essential as education Growing Population The subject was introduced at the annual meeting qn Saturday night of the St. Kilda Bowling Club by Mr E. S. Wilson, who said that if the Government were allowed to take the land under the Public Works Act there was no knowing what other area it would take. It might even take the St. Kilda bowling green. “I am strongly against any encroachment on the playing areas of our city which is growing in population and requires all its sports grounds,” he added. Mr Wilson then moved: “ That the meeting enter its emphatic protest to the Government and the Otago Education Board against any encroachment on the playing areas throughout the city.” Speaking in support of the motion, Mr E. Longworth said that he had every sympathy with the Education Board but, at the same time, there were other sites where a school could more conveniently be erected. For example there was a large area on the foreshore. The Caledonian Ground would be seriously mtefered with if a school were erected there, and although at the present time it was not used for sport as much as it should be. it would be in years to come. The necessity for keeping the ground intact in view of the growing population was stressed by other speakers, who expressed the opinion that the Education Board should look elsewhere for a site to erect a school. The Board’s Intentions There was a very great deal of misconception in the city regarding the Otago Education Board’s intentions, stated Mr D. C. Cameron, a member of the board,' who stated that he would like his fellowbowlers to know that it was not desired to take over all the ground, but only an area of three-quarters of an acre. If the previous speakers could show the board where another suitable site could be obtained anywhere adjacent to the one in view the suggestion would be welcomed. ' A voice: The foreshore. “We have gone into sites in the vicinity of the Oval and Park street,” Mr Cameron continued, “ but have found that the costs involved would be tremendous.” The Kensington School had been built on the worst site in the ;dty, and the Government had told the board that it would not give one penny to carry out remodelling work on the present site. “I am not an advocate for collaring sports grbunds.” Mr Cameron said. The proposal of the Education Board, he continued, was to negotiate with the Caledonian Society for a long lease —it was not suggested that the society should sell to the board—the society to retain the freehold. An area of threequarters of an acre was wanted on the site where the caretaker’s residence stood in Cargill road. _ The house was an old one, and it was . suggested that a hew one be erected on the corner. The area for the proposed school would be an admirable site, as the nearest part of the school would be 50 feet away from the present cycling track. The Government had made the suggestion that the Caledonian Ground could be used as a playing area for the children during school hours only, the society to receive a handsome fee for the rental of the ground. The schools were closed for three months of the year, and the Government was asking for the use of the ground for nine months of the year to be used during school hours only. The Education Department in Wellington had said that a suitable site had to be found somewhere, and the Government had offered to lease the area in question. If the school were not required later because of the population moving further afield, say, in 20 or 30 years’ time, then the area would no longer be required. “ I am not in favour of touching the area,” Mr Cameron concluded. “ but any misconception that the board warts to collar or interfere with the Caledonian Ground is entirely wrong.” “ Would not be Worth 2d ” The Caledonian Ground would not be worth 2d after the children had dug holes in it with their heels and removed the turf with pocket knives, declared Mr H, Harris. Everyone knew that the Caledonian Society was not agreeable to the suggestion, but they did not know that the Education Board had mentioned that it could do nothing else but take the ground under the Public Works Act. If the ground was to be a centre for children it would be absolutely unfit'for athletic sports. Mr J. J. Marlow said that he was opposed on principle: to the taking of playing areas. Many years ago in Dunedin there had been a request to the City Council to build a drill hall on the Oval. The council had refused and had been accused of a lack of patriotism, but it had stood firm in its decision. Later on another site had been obtained.. In latter years Dunedin had witnessed some big improvements. Logan Park and Tonga Park being two outstanding examples. “While I am in sympathy with the Education Board, I am of the opinion that we cannot have too many playing areas,” Mr Marlow concluded. When the motion was put to the meeting it was carried unanimously.