GLENSHEA PARK.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 511, 2 March 1933, Page 4

GLENSHEA PARK.

PLAYING CONDITIONS Removal of Shed Suggested. At last week’s meeting of the Putaruru Town Board an interesting discussion arose out of a proposal for the drawing up of a scale of charges to be made for the use of the town’s new recreation ground, Glenshea Park. The town clerk had been instructed to make inquiries from various local authorities about their past experiences and policy in this matter. The replies disclosed in most cases that, though the sports bodies using the grounds subscribed to a certain extent towards the cost of maintenance, the general burden of the cost was borne by the local authorities and paid for out of general rates. It was stated that at present the board’s ground was used only by the Cricket Club, which paid a levy of 6d per player. This was a light charge, but was deemed to be quite sufficient as cricket was not strongly supported in the district. In discussing the future policy of the board the chairman said the board’s aim in acquiring the area had been to confer a definite" benefit on the townspeople. He did not think sport should be hampered by the imposition of direct charges for the use of the ground. Mr. Pass said he was in favour of sports bodies being charged a percentage of gate takings, but Mr. Barr Brown objected to this, as it was possible for the public to be admitted to the ground free of charge, and the board’s revenue would thus be lost. He favoured the levying of a definite charge, irrespective of takings, on each sports body using the ground. The chairman considered that it might be possible to maintain the grounds out of any surplus arising from the general rate struck to meet the loan raised to purchase the grounds, but it was pointed out that the possibility of there being a surplus from this source could not be depended on, owing to the difficulty of collecting rates in full. Mr. Lindsay thought a greater benefit would be conferred on the townspeople if no charge was made for the use of the playing areas and maintenance was provided out of the revenue from general rates. The splendid position in which the recreation reserves in the Hamilton borough were had been brought about by the adoption of a similar policy. For many years to come the cost of maintaining Putaruru’s playing > areas would not be great, and therefore the less that was directly charged on the sports bodies using the park the greater would be the benefit derived by them.

As Free as Possible. The chairman agreed that the idea in establishing the grounds was that they were to be made as free as possible. The Football Club was the best-established and strongest body that would be using the grounds, and a percentage charge of gate takings should be made. This view was prompted by the fact that the use of the ground for football would entail a certain amount of wear and

damage, and the cost of maintenance should be defrayed to a certain extent by a charge. A proposal was adopted that applications for the use of the ground should be dealt with by resolution of the board as they were received. Football Club’s Position. The discussion then turned to the question of the charge that would be made on the Football Club, and this give rise to the suggestion that it might be possible to arrange for the removal of the football training shed from its present position on to the park. It was stated that little use was made of the shed at present, whereas if it were removed to the park much greater benefits would be derived. An excellent bore had been put down and would furnish a good water supply. Lighting could be procured from neighbouring power lines. Mr. Lindsay moved, and Mr. Pass seconded, that the chairman and the parks committee interview the guarantors of the training shed with a view to arranging for the removal of the shed on to Glenshea Park on the understanding that the Football Club would be granted the free use of the ground during the 1933 season provided that the maximum charge that could be levied on the public by the club would be one shilling per head. The board would help in the removal of the shed, which, it was proposed, would become the property of the board, subject to the club’s right to use the shed at all times (Continued in Next Column)

free of charge. The motion was carried after the addition of a clause that the chipping out of lines for marking the football field would not be permitted.