STEWART ISLAND

Southland Times, Issue 19099, 17 November 1923, Page 5

STEWART ISLAND

ESTABLISHMENT OF TENNIS COURTS. At the monthly meeting of the Southland League, hrid at Otautau yesterday, the question of Government assitance for tennis courts on the Island was considered, and it was decided to support the request; of the Islanders for a grant. The Stewart Island County Council asked for the league’s assistance in obtaining a subsidy £1 for £1 to help lay tenia courts on the Island. Ins upporto f the request, Mr Russell said the Islanders were not asking for a direct grant, but a £1 for £1 subsidy up to £5O. They had in view the purchasing of a section and the estimated cost was £4OO. “I would move,” he concluded, “that the secretary write the Minister of Health Resorts placing the views of the Islanders, and their request for favourable consideration. The chairman said they should ask for a direct grant as they were too modest. Rotorua obtained about £20,000 a year for its resorts, while Southland got about £lOOO. The Minister of Tourist Resorts had recently visited Southland and would be down again about the New Year. “I am sure,” he concluded, “that we will get better treatment in future as the Minister was very sympathetic.” Mr W. McChesney said the league should be careful in handling requests such as the one before them. There were many things which the Island required before tennis courts —the principal being a better boat service. The motion was carried. The number of orchards registered in New Zealand during the last financial year was 7044, representing a total of some 30,000 acres. The amount of £1982 waa collected in orchard tax.