VICTORIA PARK GRANDSTAND

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 20 November 1928, Page 5

VICTORIA PARK GRANDSTAND

THE SITE QUESTION. TO BE FURffTER DISCUSSED. The proposed grandstand in 'Victoria Park was the caus e of a good deal of discussion at last night's meeting of the Stratford Domain Board. Finally, the matter of .the site was reopened, and sports bodies and others are to be invited to discuss the question with the Board at a special meeting on Monday next. The recommendation of the grandstand committee, that the stand be built on Mr Davis' plan, was adopted. . : Cr. Moore said greater depth iOO.uld. be secured by building the stand' over the path on pillars. Mr P. Thomson said he could not agree to that. •

It was decided that Cr. Moore should inspect some timber and other material which was under offer from the Main-Trunk district,. The Mayor moved that he'be permitted, without notice, to move that the previous resolution fixing; the site of he stand on the west side should he rescinded. He said that the erection of the stand on the western side would absolutely' spoil the look oi the entrance }to ■ the park. Mr D. J. Malohe* had-sug-gested that the stand % might... be erected en the north side alid that a football ground could v b_e_ In front of It, running east A 1 stand on the west side, would not be suitable for athletic..- sports, as the straight must be oh the north or south side. v ; r"-,i v ""',f '•* ,"■'■' FINAL DECISION WANTED. Cr. Lawson seconded. He said that when the question was discussed previously he had favoured the north end, which had been left open for the erection of a stand. He did not' think the weather would make much difference.

Cr. Harkness opposed the north side, and said that to re-open the question.; of site showed the 'weak: ness of the Board. The north.side had been left) open to give drainage to the ground, and not for the purposes of a.stand,. There had.already been considerable trouble through interference with the cricket pitches, and now it was again proposed to Interfere.-- Tfife..-.pre-vailing wind in the winter was.from the south, which would ymake- .a stand on /the north ' side ; '%iite fuseless. If the stand was en the north side it would be quite impossible to control the public. They had not to worry about rep. matches. Stratford would never get any big matches—they would be arranged for New Plymouth. They had to consider the senior matches and the needs of the people of Stratford.; jMr Thomson thought all sports bodies should" be consulted." Cr. Fletcher said that when th<s matter was previously discussed it; ■was decided that care should betaken tb place the stand so that it would not be subject to tUe south, wind. i

MORE BOOM* Cr. Moore said tliat if th e stand was on the north, side a aeeper stand could he provided, and thq cost would be less per seat. Cr. Ward thougnt .the Football Club should be consulted. A stand on the north side would be an iso chamber. There .wa|; not mcun sua in the winter and it thougnt peochamber. There was not much sua they could on the west terrace rather than to use the stand on the, north side. Cr. Kelly said that to please everybody it would be necessary to have, a stand right' round the ground. He would continue to favour the western side. Cr. Harkness drew attention to the fact that last year the Council got £37 in revenue from the Football Club and nothing at all from other, sports bodies. Cr. Nelson thought' the stand would get 1 as mucT rain on the west side as it would on th e north. Cr. Ward: I favour the west side. Cr. McKee: So do the majority 'of the Board. Cr. Harkness: Therefore It ia useless to reopen the matter. '*■ The Mayor's motion was carried, and it was decided to ask representatives of the sports bodies to meet th e Council and give thoir views on Monday evening next. On Cr. Ward's suggestion it was decided to invite members o£ the public to the : meeting. • Cr. Nelson: Not forgetting the president of the Eel Club.