THE RACECOURSE RESERVE QUESTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 4461, 2 October 1883, Page 2

THE RACECOURSE RESERVE QUESTION.

At the Borough Council last evening, Mr. Cock moved his resolution that he had given notice of, " That a poll be taken to test the feeling of the ratepayers on the racecourse reserve question." Mr. Cock said in moving the resolution that a poll be taken to test the vext question which was agitating the public mind he did it as a duty both as a Councillor and a burgess. It will be remembered that at a meeting held to consult the member for the town respecting the Borough Reserves some time, prior to his going to Wellington, Mr. Kelly pointed out that the reserve known as the racecourse was made over to the then Town Board in lieu of some other property that had been taken away ; and that, according to the Ordinance, the revenue derived from it was to go towards keeping the streets in order. The Jockey Club had, however, been frying to get the reserve diverted from the purpose it was granted for to the town. At the late election between Mr. Berry and Mr. Davidson the question had been raised Mr. Humphries rose to order. The resolution had nothing to do with the late election. He said Mr. Cock was not keeping to the resolution. Mr. Cock contended that he was in order. It was a question as to whether the racecourse should be taken over by the Jockey Club for racing purposes. If they were to have a fight, let them have it, and then have done with it. A Councillor : The resolution is not seconded. Mr. Bjsllringer ; I will second the resolution. - Mr. Humphries said if Mr. Cook would merely speak to the motion it was right enough, but he had no right to refer to matters ectirely outside of it. A short colloquial discussion ensued as to the wording of Mr. Cock's resolution, when Mr. Humphries told the Mayor he ought to rule that the resolution was oat of order. His Worship naid he thought it only right the public should have an opportunity of giving their opinion on the question. The matter had been for some time uppermost in the public mind, and the question should be settled once and for all. He did not think the resolution was out of order. They were a very small community, and if they all moved and worked together it would be better for all concerned. Some of the members of the Jockey Club we.c acting in a most determined manner in endeavouring to get tbe reserve made over to the Club ; whilst the other side were as determined that it should remain the property of the Borough. He thought Mr. Cock's resolution was sufficient to open a discussion on the question, and therefore ruled he was in order if he chose to amend it. Mr. Cock then amended his notice of motion to " I intend to move at the next meeting of the Borough Council that a poll be taken on the Racecourse Reserve Question." Mr. Bellrincier then moved, " That His Worship the Major be requested to ask the Returning Officer to take a poll on the question agitating the public mind with regard to the future of reserve known as the Racecourse, and that the following questions be submitted to the burgesses:— I (1) Are you in favor of the Borough Re- ! serve known as the Racecourse being Crown granted to the Borough at once, in accordance with the Town Board of New New Plymouth Ordinance, 1871, but with a further power to lease for twenty-one years, the whole or any part for horse racing, cricket, agricultural shows, recreation ; or for building and other purposes. (2) Do you prefer that the Crown Grant of such property should be subject to the following encumbrances in perpetuity, that is to say — that the use of the reserve by the public generally as a recreation ground, and for cricket and other athletic sports, and that the use of the same be accorded to the Jockey Club ; also that the Agricultural Society shall have permission to use it for their shows and exhibits. That the Mayor be requested to take immediate steps to give effect to the above resolution." He had placed the two questions to be put before the burgesses in as fair a way as he could possibly do it. The first clause put the claim of the Council to the Crown Grant of the reserve, and the second was in the words of those asserting the Jockey Club's interest being copied from ihe Crown Grant seat from the Land Office. According to their solicitor's opinion — or rather the opinion of a Wellington solicitor on the wording of the ordinance, the leasing power expires at the end o£ the present term of lease to Mr. Snell. According to the legal opinion tho reserve reverts to the Borough to use for any purpose the Council may please. As they are aware, the Council made an offer to the Jockey Club that if they ceased to use their influence — for there was no denying that there was an indirect influence at work, something behind the scenes which they could not get at — and would do their best to enable tho Borough to get the Crown grant without any bother — tbe Council was prepared to grunt the Oub an extended lease of 21 years, which, with the five years they had to run, would have made 27 years, at the very reasonable rental of £50 v year with rates, or £75 a year clear of them. The letter containing this offer had never been acknowledged, at least, as far as he was aware; the Jockey Club not having had the courtesy to let the Council know whether they accepted or rejected the offer. Tho Club took up the position of having a vested right in the reserve for the use of horse-racing. Tho Council considered that no such right existed, but was ready to meet them in a fair spirit. The Club was working in an underhand way to , bring about indirectly what they aimed at ■acquiring. The quicker, thereforo, tho burgesses had the matter brought before them and their views tested, the better it wou'.d be for everyone. Surely the Jockey Club could not object to the matter being tested in the way he proposed. If they did, it would show what had been stated outside to bo true, and that, not being able to get what they want by legitimate means, they were using an outside influonco (which was not known to tho Council or the public) to obtain tho grant of a valuable reserve, and ge,t it made over to some irresponsible or private parties instead of tho Borough Corporation, who already were tho legal owners by Ordinance. Ho thought they ought to be satisfied with the manner he proposed to test the question, and if the bur-

gesses said let the Jockey Club have the reserve for their use, and for Agricultural Shows and recreation purposes, then lie was quite prepared to submit to it, and would not again move in the matter, or raise his voice again in opposition. As his Worship the Mayor had said they were but a small community, and it was better they should all work together, and he hoped they would work for the public goo.l. Until the vote had been taken — until tho burgesses had had an opportunity of expiessing their views on the matter, there would be a continued agitation on the subjpftt, and it would, therefore, be better to settle the question once and for all by taking the poll Mr. Cock had asked the Council to agreo to. He begged to move that the words he had read be added to the resolution. < Mr. Handy seconded the motion, which, on being put, was declared carried on the voices. — Mr. Humphries called for a division, which resulted as follows :—: — Ayes, 6 : Messrs. Nicoll, King, Cock, Handy, Bellringer, and Bayly. Noes, 3 : Messrs. Berry, Humphries, and Callaghan. Mr. Berry said he supposed he could now move an amendment to the resolution. The reason why he objected to it was that from the manner the questions were worded they were liable to mislead the burgesses. He thought the questions put to them should be as to whether they preferred the reserve being made over to Borough Council as trustees to hold it for the purpose of recreation, or whether they were of a different opinion. He did not consider that half the ratepayers would know what they were voting for if the proposed resolutions were agreed to. For this reason he would move the following amendment : — "That a poll be taken whether the reserve known as the racecourse be made over to the Borough Council as trustees for the purpose of recreation, or not, and that his Worship the Mayor be requested to give effect to this." Mr. Humphries seconded it, when, on it being declared to be lost on the voices, a division was called for, which resulted as follows :—: — Ayes, 3 : Messrs. Berry, Humphries, and Callaghan. Noes, 6 : Messrs. Nicoll, King, Cock, Handy, Bellringer, and Bayly. The amendment was declared lost. The Mayor then put the original resolution as amended, which being declared to be carried, Mr. Humphries called lor a division, which resulted as follows :—: — Ayes, 6 : Messrs. Nicoll, King, Cock, Handy, Bellringer, and Bayly. . Noes, 3 : Messrs. Berry, Humphries, and Callaghan. \ The resolution was declared to be carried. ' Mr. Humphries asked to have his protest recorded, that the resolution was amended in contravention of the 'bye-laws. After a few words from some of the Councillors, pointing out where Mr. Humphries was wrong in his inteipretation of the bye-laws, the subject was dropped, and other business proceeded with.