DOMAIN CHARGES

Waipa Post, Volume 36, Issue 2148, 24 April 1928, Page 5

DOMAIN CHARGES

ALL USERS TO PAY. DECISION OF DOMAIN BOARD. At a meeting of the Te Awamutu, Domain Board last evening, following the ordinary Borough Council business, the Waipa Rugby Union was granted the use of the three playing areas in Albert Park during the present football season. . The Deputy Mayor reminded Councillors that for some time past the Town Clerk had "been preparing data showing the various sports bodies that are using the domains. Bowling, tennis and croquet clubs use Victoria Park, and the Rugby Union, Hockey and Cricket Associations use Albert Park, while the Athletic Club, A. and P. Show Association-and Fire Brigade use that Park once or twice a year. There was under consideration the matter of charges for each body. On charge days the various bodies using Albert Park pay 10 per cent of their takings. ~ , Cr Gifford moved that all bodies pay a fixed charge as ground rent. Cr Bygrave seconded. Cr North moved as an amendment that the three clubs using Victoria Park be exempted from any charge. Cr Swain seconded. Cr Gifford pointed out that the three clubs referred to have the use of their enclosed grounds all the year round. Cr Bygrave said footballers comprise mainlv young men who are not well-to-do, whereas bowlers can well afford to pay. Cr Gifford said footballers (the Rugby Union) last year paid over £23. The bowlers paid nothing to the Domain Board. , Cr Spinley thought the bowlers would not mind pacing a small fee. Cr North said he had nothing against football and other sports bodies, but he would point out that bowlers collect no gate charges, yet they maintain their playing areas. ' Cr Spinley said he felt the footballers pay quite enough, and he would favour some reduction. All sports bodies should pay something. Cr Reilly agreed. By paying even a nominal fee they had some right to the use of the grounds they occupy. Clubs using Victoria Park certainly spent a good deal of money—but it is for their own benefit. He favoured a small charge to all bodies using Domain lands. ~ To Cr Swain, the chairman said the Board, spent £137 last year on the parks and reserves. The Rugby Union had effected some improvements and were doing that for general usfe. iney had no exclusive right to those nnpiovementSd y ictor j a Park cost the Board last year £1 per week for work outside the three enclosed playing areas. . Cr North considered it would be economical if the Board purchased a motor lawn mower. Cr Montefiore asked if the Board, m considering the charge to the Rugby Union, whether it had taken into consideration the expenditure by the Union on a grandstand? ■ Cr Montefiore, continuing, said users of Albert Park should be given every encouragement to go on improving and popularising that park just as the bowling, croquet and tennis people had improved Victoria Park. He was not in favour of an harassing charge for the use of Victoria Park and also to reduce the charges to users of Albert Psrk The amendment was defeated by 4 votes to 3. „ ~ Before the motion was put, Cr Keiily called attention to the town clerk s report on Victoria Park control several years ago, wherein the minutes showed the three clubs using it had offered to pay a small annual fee. lne bowlers asked permission to enclose their area and lock the gate to. keep out dogs and irresponsible children, for damage had been done to the playing area. Mr Bockett quoted from the minutes of a Board meeting in 1920, when a deputation from the three clubs affirmed the previous offer to contribute a small fee, in consideration of some fixity of .tenure. A suggestion was made by one of the deputation that the Board lease the grounds to the clubs. Cr Montefiore commented that he was glad that offer had not been entertained.

Mr Bockett added that no decision was come to pending the result of the Domain Queen Carnival, but there was no record afterwards of the matter being raised again. Cr Gifford asked how the Board arrived at a decision to charge the footballers. The chairman said it was the outcome of a suggestion from the footballers themselves.

The motion was then put and carried, Crs North, Swain and Montefiore voting against it. Then the question of respective charges was dealt with. The chairman suggested that the footballers pay £2 10s annually, hockey and cricket £1 10s, and bowling, tennis and croquet each £l. Cr Montefiore pointed out that the footballers make a gate charge. They are better able to charge. Cr Reilly sun , ° , ested the following: Football £3, bowling and tennis £2 each, croquet, cricket and hockey £1 each.

Cr Gifford moved as an amendment: Bowling and tennis £3 3s, hockey £2 2s, cricket £1 10s, croquet £2 2s, and footballers £4. The chairman said he thought all the clubs were doing their best to improve the grounds. It was just a matter of a nominal fee. Cr Montefiore said he would support the lowest chai’ge. The chairman called attention to the fact that the ratepayers contributed £137 for the upkeen of the two parks. Cr Montefiore said it was a question whether the Board could justify the expenditure. , , ' Cr Gifford pointed out that the various sports bodies keep their own areas in order. , ~, The chairman then suggested that the charge be: Croquet £l, tennis £2, bowling £2 10s, cricket £1 10s hockey £1 10s, and football £4. It was suggested that the croquet club be let off with £1 Is, but the relative ability of each of the sports clubs to pay was called attention to. Eventually Cr Gifford’s amendment was varied to reduce the cronuet qlub

to £l. . . , Cr Reilly adhered to his original motion, and said those charges were sufficient. Cr Gifford said he would agree to the chairman’s suggestion, but after consideration decided to stand by his amendment. The voting was four each way, and the chairman exercised his casting vote in favour of the amendment. Cr Reilly asked that the engineer be instructed to get a price for fencing across Albert Park from Geoige street. A fends would be an advantage to the board’s operations for grazing, etc. Cr North preferred the fence along the northern edge of No. 3 football ground. Thus all playing areas would be fenced off from the rough ground. Cr Bygrave suggested a visit of inspection to decide where the fence should be placed. Cr Montefiore agreed that it that fence is erected, barring big cattle or horses,-the fence along the Park road hedge could be dismantled. _ The Board decided to pay a visit of inspection.