The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1913. ALBERT PARK.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 271, 9 December 1913, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1913. ALBERT PARK.

WHEN the Domain Board announced its intention of offering Albert Park to the auctioneering firms for the purpose of being converted into grazing paddocks some little time ago there was a very general protest made, it being the unanimous opinion of the town that these grounds should be kept for general recreation purposes. Although dissatisfaction was rife it was only at the inaugural meeting of the Te Awamutu Ratepayers’, Citizens’, and Beautifying Society that official disapproval of the Board’s intended action was expressed, and delegates accordingly waited upon the Board. They were informed that it was not intended to interfere with the rights of the sporting clubs to enter these grounds, but rather to allow the auctioneers the use of the grounds with no fixed term of tenancy, ft is not our intention to comment upon the rights or wrongs of the Board’s procedure—we have already expressed ourselves —but. our mission to-day is to express surprise that the whole of the sporting clubs and institutions whose functions are so curtailed and whose management is beset with difficulties because of the want of proper sports grounds are so slow to move. Of recent years every one of these clubs has looked with, envious eyes upon Victoria Park, and the termination of the then lease oi the grazing rights was anxiously awaited. But now the lease has expired what action'has any one club taken to induce the Board to make these grounds available to the public or to effect improvements for the benefit of the town and the use of all sporting bodies ? When the apathy of the clubs more directly concerned- is considered little wonder is it that the authorities should seek to put these valuable grounds to some use, even if it be only for grazing paddocks. Certainly the Show Committee has submitted proposals that required certain works being done on the grounds, works that will be required before any sporting body will be able to utilise the park, in due course the Board replied that it had not the power to spend moneys for

the benefit of any A. and P. society, which was dearly an attempt by the Board to “wriggle’ 5 and should have been accepted as such by the Show committee. Yet no further action was taken by this institution whose success is entirely dependant upon the use of these grounds being granted. If the Show committee really does mean business, it is for it —as the primary mover and one so very closely concerned—to arrange for a conference of all those clubs and institutions likely to use the Park, and to formulate a scheme, for the carrying out of any necessary works. Were this done and were the Board approached by delegates representative of all the clubs, with the request that improvements for general recreation purposes be effected, we feel sure that the proposals would be welcomed. Financial arrangements will have to be considered, and possibly a loan will have to be taken, and in this the delegates will have to express, on behalf ol the members of the clubs they represent, the desire that such loan be raised. But withall, the question is not one that presents many difficulties, and is easy of accomplishment once the combined clubs take action. To raise a loan for general recreation pursoses and to expend public moneys upon domain lands was the main factorleading up to the vesting ol Victoria Park in the same Board that controls Albert Park, and we therefore have every reason to believe that financial difficulties

may be easily overcome provided any scheme of improvements is for general recreation purposes, it is useless for the individual clubs to complain at the delay, when by concerted action they may so easily make possible the improvement of these grounds. The delay is all of their own seeking, and the longer they decline to state their requirements the longer it will be before they will have reasonable facilities at Albert Park.