PARK SPORTSGROUND

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1934, Page 3

PARK SPORTSGROUND

NEW PLYMOUTH CONTROL COMMITTEE’S OPERATIONS END. DISPOSITION OF THE FUNDS. The New Plymouth sportsground committee, which has had control of the Pukekura Park sportsground for the past 14 years under lease from the Pukekura Park Board, last night decided to hand over all funds in hand, amounting to £321, and all control to the Pukekura Park committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council. That action was necessitated as the result of the new legislation placing |he control of the whole of the Pukekura Park area, including the sportsground, and Brooklands under the control of the New Plymouth Borough Council, which has authority to appoint a board to control the whole area, but has no power to delegate the control of any part of that area to a sub-committee or to lease any part under its jurisdiction to another body, as was done in the past by the Pukekura Park Board. At last night’s annual meeting of the sportsground committee Mr. E. Jackson, in his annual report, stated that owing to Pukekura Park being vested in the borough council as one of its reserves the park committee was unable to renew the lease of the sportsground to the sportsground committee, and it would be necessary to consider the position of the committee regarding the future control of the sportsground. In moving the adoption of the report the chairman expressed thanks for the excellent work that had been done by I the committee, which now had the grounds in excellent order. It had, however, now come to the end of the road. Apparently after that evening the committee would cease to function. It would be regrettable if the sportsground was to be allowed to go back. The committee, which was representative of all sports, had given great attention to the ground, and it was a great pity that it would not be able to carry on. It was certainly leaving the ground/in much better condition than when it had taken control. All finance received from the use of the ground had been expended very carefully, the revenue being utilised to keep the ground in good order for all sports and to provide the utmost convenience for patrons. IMPARTIAL TO ALL SPORTS. During its term of office the committee, realising that the park was a public ground, had been impartial in fostering all sports, taking into consideration the fact that Rugby in winter and cricket in summer provided the main sources of revenue. He reported that with the secretary, Mr. E. Little, he had waited on a sub-committee of the park committee and had discussed the position at length. It had been agreed by the park committee that the sum of £321, the balance in hand from the carnival money, should be earmarked for use on improvements and maintenance of the sports area, and that sum would be handed to the park committee on those conditions. He understood, however, that all future revenue from the sports ground would be placed in the general funds for use in any part of Pukekura Park.

The park committee, it must be conceded, was facing a difficult problem in the maintenance of the large area of park land under its control with, the funds at its disposal, and he therefore saw a danger that the revenue collected for the sports area might be spent elsewhere and the sports area allowed to deteriorate unless the sportsground committee had some say in its control. He understood, however, that the park committee would carry on with the funds handed over in the two works that the sportsground committee had in view, the improvements to the eastern terraces and the roofing of the pathway leading from the main gate to the eastern terraces. Mr. V. Garth agreed that the sportsground committee was handing over a good nest egg to the park committee. He considered that the sportsground committee should be very jealous of the control of the ground, for it was undoubtedly a big asset to New Plymouth, being one of the finest playing areas in New Zealand and Australia. The chairman said he recognised the park committee members had done wonderful work in the control of the park. They, however, faced a very difficult problem in the way of finance, as they had a very big area to maintain and he understood that the income was limited to £llOO. At the conference it had been stated definitely that the park committee could not lease any part of its area. Nor could it delegate any powers to a sub-committee. All funds must be paid into the general fund at the borough council. The sportsground representatives had stipulated that the £321 should be used on the sports area, and that was agreed to. WORK OF COMMITTEE PRAISED The park committee representatives spoke in very flattering terms of the work of the sportsground committee, and would have been quite satisfied to let it carry on if that could legally be done, Mr. Jackson said. In fact, they appeared more anxious for the sportsground committee to be able to carry on than the sportsground committee was to carry on. It had been suggested that three members of the sportsground committee should be appointed to the park committee, to have, as it were, special interest in matters dealing with the sports area, but there would be the difficulty that they would have no control of finance. If that were not agreed to it meant that control would have to be handed to the park committee. The executive of’ the Park Board recommended, however, the appointment of three members of the sportsground committee to the park committee. Mr. J. W. Hollows suggested that possibly a committee representative of each branch of sport might be accepted to make recommendations regarding the allocation of the ground. He moved that the sportsground committee nominate one representative each of Rugby, League, Association, athletics and cricket to take full control of the sportsground, all revenue derived from sports purposes to be used solely for improvements and maintenance of the sports area.

The chairman seconded. He pointed out, however, that the park committee considered it was not receiving enough revenue from the sportsground, as the committee now paid £l2O a year, against £2OO some years ago.

Mr. Garcia pointed out that the park committee could not delegate its powers. Mr. Hollows: Then we have to close the door otherwise.

The chairman said the object of the park committee was to appoint three impartial men who would give all sports a fair run.

Mr. V. Garth pointed out that the park committee wanted the revenue from the sports area to maintain the rest of the park. He moved as an amendment that the committee hand the control and the funds to the park committee.- If the sports area were allowed to deteriorate the public would have something to say, he added. Mr’. F. J. Hill seconded the amendment.

Mr. S. O. Jones said that was one question that the sports area would be kept in reasonable condition. Possibly the sports bodies might have to pay more. The park committee realised that

the ground was an asset and no committee with any civic spirit was going to let it fall into disrepair. The chairman said the;-sports bodies could not pay more. The amendment was carried with three dissentients.