CURTAILING TENNIS COURTS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14767, 5 October 1921, Page 6

CURTAILING TENNIS COURTS

DORIAIN BOARD'S PROPOSAL. A GHAIN FOR FOOTBALL. TENNIS SOCIETY'S PROTEST. Alongside the new tennis courts at present being made on the site known as the Chinamen's gardens, near Scddon Park, the Hamilton Domain Board is laying out. football grounds. In order to carry out its scheme, it may be found necessary to alter a fence line, cutting off from a chain to a chain and a-half or the land which the Hmailton Lawn Tennis Society (which is putting down the courts) regarded as the area set aside especially for lawn tennis. With a view to inducing the Board to stay its hand in the matter, a large deputation from the society waited on the Board last night.

Mr C. L. Mac Diarmid, president of St. Andrew's Tennis Club and a member of the Hamilton Lawn Tennis Society, said that for some years a scheme had been gradually evolved for concentrating the courts of the town. The work was now being carried out, and last year a plan was prepared showing the lay-out of the Chinamen's gardens as tennis courts. The society had, all through the proceedings, acted on the assumption that the whole of this particular property had been allocated solely to lawn tennis, but they had recently received intimation of the Board's intention to cut off about a chain, or a chain and a-half of the ground at the back. This would very much prejudice the society, as they would not have the land available which Ihey anticipated for beautifying purposes, and also for utility at tournament times. The society was now asking that the grant of land be not curtailed, but that the whole of the ground shown on the original published plan be set. aside for lawn tennis.

Mr F. A. Ho la Marc said that throughout the negotiations the society had dealt with Uie Board in perfect frankness, acd he personally had pone to the. secretary and disclosed to him the whole of the facts from time to time. During the negotiations the society met a committee of the Board, and the committee definitely told fhe society they could go ahead with the scheme suggested, particulars of which were published in the Waikato Times. Mr A. E. Manning and Mr D. flay composed the committee, and the former was prepared to hear out what the speaker had now asserted- Acting on these promises the society had gone ahead and had spent £200(Mo date in laying out the grounds. Unfortunately, owing to some legal technicality, the society had not neen able to jrpt a lease of the property,but tt had taken certain important steps and made certain commitments, acting on the good faith of the Board's promises.

Mr D. Hay thought that at the time referred to by Mr de la Mare, both the speaker and Mr Manning spoke only as individuals, and not as a committee. Personally the area was never in his (Mr Hay's) mind. lie only thought of getting the lease, and advised the society to go ahead and try and secure it.

Mr de la Mare: You had the whole plan before you. Dr- A. G. (lower said the society's object was to make the Hamilton tennis courts the finest in the Dominion, just as the golf links had become the champion courts of New Zealand. They felt, however, that if this land was taken from them it would restrict the aims they had set out to put into effect. Mr A. Swarbrick (Domain Board chairman) said the question of the domain lands was receiving the most careful attention of the Board. The remarks of the deputation had been duly noted, but the Board did not think that anything would be gained by discussing the matter that ni?hf. The secretary would no doubt communicate with the society later. In the meantime, however, silence must not be interpreted as binding the Board to any of the views or statements the deputation had been pleased to put forward or otherwise. The domain lands were the property of the people nf New Zealand. Every man. woman and child in the district had an equal righl to their use and enjoyment, and in dealing with them the Board was bound to consider and conserve the rights of all classes and sections of the community.

When the depufcilinn had retired, on the motion of the chairman. Ihe whole matter nf a definile scheme for dealine ■with the domain lands in this vicinity was referred to the >porls Committee tn co thoroughly inln. Mr 0. Hay paid he did not want the tennis people to think he had gone back on Hiern. Neither Mr Manning nor himself had the power to give the land to the tennis society, but they were apnointed a snorts committee, and they told Ihe tennis people that provided they did not deviate from Ihe scheme as pel out they had no doubt the Board would hark' them up. He now asked (tie Hoard to keep faith with the tennis people and hack up' its sports committee. Mr ?warbriel< said the trouble had arsen fhromrh the tennis people spendir><r money hefore getting a proper deed of le:ise.