CYCLE TRACK AT SHOW GROUNDS

Southland Times, Issue 23664, 12 November 1938, Page 12

CYCLE TRACK AT SHOW GROUNDS

NEW PROPOSALS BY CLUB CONSIDERATION DEFERRED BY A. AND P. DIRECTORS Additional suggestions by the Invercargill Amateur Cycling Club in support of a request to have a cycle track constructed on the show grounds were before the directors of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association at a meeting yesterday. At a previous meeting the directors decided against the proposal, but invited the club to put forward new suggestions. A reply was received from the secretary of the Cycling Club (Mr M. C. Wilson) outlining suggestions which the committee thought might overcome the difficulties which appeared to have arisen. . The suggestions were summarized as follows:— , (1) Loss of Grazing Fees. —The committee considers grazing of stock on the grounds would not be affected m any way. The caretaker could remove stock from the ring and the south end of the grounds each night at five o’clock. (2) Stock Jumping. Ring Fence.—-The ring fence at the banked ends of the track could be shifted out approximately 10ft, which would stop cattle mounting the bank and jumping the fence. The committee would be P re “ pared to meet the cost of additional fencing. <» (3) Extra Supervision.—The committee would accept the responsibility, of having a member present during training hours and when sports, meetings were being held. The committee considers that the days and hours of training should be restricted. Upkeep of Track. —The committee is prepared to raise funds to be held as a maintenance fund, and suggests that sports bodies using the track could be levied on a percentage basis, the levy to go into the maintenance fund; cyclists also to pay a small training fee towards the maintenance fund. (5) Cycling Waning in Popularity.— There is no guarantee against this happening, but with the track being available the sport would boom. Establishment of a maintenance fund would overcome the upkeep of the track in the event of the sport having a lean period. : (6) Damage to Property and Buildings.—The committee would undertake to prevent any damage to buildings to the best of its ability, though it is aware that this is at present a difficulty faced by the association. (7) Cinders Spreading.—There would be no difficulty of dust nuisance, as with expert supervision cinders will be bound in a layer of clay. The more the track is used the firmer the cinders will bind.

(8) Control of Track—The committee suggests that the association form a track committee comprising three; from the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, one from the Cycling Club and one from the Caledonian Society, the chairman to be one of the association members.

(9) Financing of Scheme.—An estimate of the cost of the track is £420. The committee has £5O in hand. The Government has offered 100 per cent, free labour—the total wages for work will be £252. The balance of £llB is being raised by the committee through a,.special permit issued by the Minister, of Internal Affairs to conduct an Art Union, from which the committee is confident of raising at least £l5O.

“Should the association still maintain its opinion, the committee would favourably consider a flat cinder track being laid, as a prepared cycling track is a necessity if the sport is to increase in popularity,” continued the letter. “A flat track would entail less expense and work and could be laid in a very short time. “The committee wishes to make it clear that the need of a cycle track for competitive racing is a strong one and should the association hold to its decision, the committee intends persevering with the scheme to provide proper facilities for. the sport” The chairman (Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford) said that there were two alternatives—one to refer the letter to a committee of members of the grounds, finance and emergency committees for consideration and a report, and the other was not to consider it at alt There was new material for consideration.

Mr A. M. Weir moved that consideration be deferred in the meantime, particularly in view of the possibility of the rearrangement of the ring and other parts of the show grounds. “The ring to too small and it is well that we did not favourably consider the proposal when it was before us previously,” said Mr Weir. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Macdonald and carried.