THE COMMON INTERESTS OF OTAGO SPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 4

THE COMMON INTERESTS OF OTAGO SPORT

'TVHE Otago Provincial Council of Sport will celebrate the first anniversary of its foundation this month, and it will be able to welcome the occasion in the know--ledge that already it is a wellorganised and powerful.,, influence for the good of sport in the province. Its progress, in fact, has been remarkable. Already there are 26 controlling bodies of sport affiliated, representing both men and women's organisations, and the achievements of the year constitute an impressive initial record.

The need .for such a body to represent the interests of all sports on any subject that is of common interest is obvious, and the realisation that in these times of war unity in sport >s of paramount importance has been proved by the spirit of co-operation that has been shown by the variou? bodies controlling all sports.

Perhaps the best indication of the. value of this co-operation is to be obtained in the council's success in securing relief in the matter of ground rentals. Sport,in Dunedin has always been cheap in comparison with the costs of northern centres; but most sports bodies are suffering heavily through losses to the war services. 11 was apparent in many cases that expenses on the former scale could not be met. and ground rent was the first item which called for reconsideration. Relief had been given in some of the northern centres, and the council of sport was able to represent the position strongly to the Dunedin City Council. The City Fathers appreciated the difficulties of sports bodies, and the outcome was a war measure reduction of 25 per cent, on the rentals of all open reserves leased by the council. Further representations to have this assistance extended to lawn tennis clubs usinii areas on the Town Belt and on other corporation property were similarly successful. This, then, is a direct result of greatvalue to individual clubs. No doubt this question would have been reconsidered at some time in any case; but the fact that snorts bodies were able to sneak with one voice unquestionably made the path easier;, 'ln other ways, the council's major activity so far 1 as been the successful; All Sports carnival held in May and June. This was an undertaking that demanded much preliminary work, and the solendid result of a contribution of £2056 Is lid to the "Comforts for Fighters " Fund was made possible only bv the assistance given so willingly bv members of every .organisation am-, liated to the council. This type of work is being continued and the organisation of a monster Gala Day at Carisbrook on Saturday. September 27. is already well in train Rugby. Association football, athletic women's hockey, basketball, archery interhouse teams—all these and other sports will be represented in a most attractive programme. To come back to more intimate sports affairs, however, there is the active interest taken in the future of the St Clair baths to be remembered When there was talk of their being closed down, the council took up the. ouestion and the sympathy of the Mavor (Mr A. H. Allen) and city councillors was obtained. The result was improvements and an assurance of consideration in better times to further development of the fine natural facilities available at the baths. The Council of Snort has always been fully .alive to the need for preserving recreational facilities for the community, and when there 'was the prosnect of the newly-reclaimed area at Mussel Bay being turned over for a housing scheme instead of being retained for its original ourpose. it cooperated with Port Chalmers residents The Minister of Internal Affairs was approached, and the housing scheme was discontinued. 1 The council is keeping a watchful eye on the affairs of the Cale- • donian Ground, and already it has made representations to the City Council that everything should be • done to preserve this historic ground for* the city as a recreational area. A work that will be of great value, the compilation of a register of sport is well in hand Already information of officers and addresses of affiliated clubs can be obtained, and it is intended that the list will be completed with summer clubs and copies issued The information contained in such a register should eliminate much unnecessary inquiries Ultimately it is honed the council will establish nermanenl headquarters for sport in Dunedin. A place in which all sports bodies can meet, where visitors can be received and where business C3n be transacted will fill a long-felt want. Preliminary steps toward the realisation of this aim have been taken, Minister of Internal Affairs has received a request that when the war clouds are pasl consideration should be given to an application to hold a maior art union for this purpose. All this work and much more is the product of a bodv which is in the nosition to speak for Otago sport as a whole Such an organ isation has been an ideal for many years. Now it is being accepted and appreciated as an established fact. Boxing Day Regatta Many years ago a few " weekenders" at Macandrew Bay started an aquatic fixture that developed ultimately into the '■ Boxing Day Regatta " at North-East Harbour. Their fixture was taken over and developed bv an energetic regatta committee, and gradually the regatta assumed the form of a public function. In more recent years however, when the NorthEast Harbour Boating Club was formed and took control of the regatta, it became rather less of a public outing and more of an occasion for competitive aquatics on inter-club lines. The announcement at the annual meeting of the club that the regatta might not be held this vear will be received with regret. Unfortunately, the lean war years militate against the success of such fixtures, and this season a noticeable reduction in the number of senior crews, and perhaps of boats, too, probably promoted the decision of the club to hold the regatta over in the meantime. Beth the public and the remaining yachtsmen will regret even the temporary abandonment of a popular holiday fixture