SPORTS GROUNDS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 19 April 1939, Page 9

SPORTS GROUNDS

IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES DOMAIN BOARD'S PROPOSALS TOTAL COST OF £8905 Involving a total expenditure of £8905, the report of the special subcommittee appointed by the Hamilton Domain Board to confer with representatives of local authorities on the question of improvements to sports areas in the town was received at the meeting of the board last evening. Setting out in detail the number of teams playing different forms of sports, their accommodation requirements and the cost of proposed improvements to Steele, Hinemoa, rlon, Boyes, Rugby, Galloway, Willoughby Street and Rifle Ranpre Road parks, the tennis courts, and tiie Lake reserve, the report was received and aroused a good deal of discussion at the meeting, which was presided over by the chairman, Mr W. H. Paul. “The hoard is not in favour of converting either Seddon Park or Hinemoa Park into r stadium as it considers these areas are too valuable, situated as they are in the centre of the town,” stated the report. “The construction of a stadium at either of these parks would also further seriously reduce playing- areas. The proposals at Seddon Park, Hinemoa Park and Steele Park provide for moderate banking to give better visibility, but not so as to destroy these grounds as open parks.” Costs of Schemes The total costs of the proposed improvements were set out as follows: — Rifle Range Road, £1000; Willoughby Street, £750: Steele Park, £620; Galloway Park. £1900: Hinemoa Park, £800; Seddon Park, £1450; Boyes Park, £SO; No. 4 ground at Rugby Park, £100; lennis courts, £500; Lake reserve, £4035. In reply to the Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, who asked how it was proposed to bank Hinemoa and Seddon Parks, Mr Paul stated that it would be raised to about three or four feet. “1 was thinking of the sports bodies using the areas,” said Mr Caro, "for if the banking was such that it would shelter the inside of the grounds the sports organisations would be able to charge for the big matches they staged. It would not close the park by any means, but It would prevent the people from getting a full view of the park from the outside.” Keeping the Parks Open “Our idea has always been to keep our parks as open as possible,” replied the chairman. “To close any of them would spoil their appear luce and we want to avoid that. As far as Seddon Park is concerned, I think the spoils bodies would prefer to have the bank near ilie path aevoss the park, instead of along Norton Road.” "Unless we can give those sports organisations some protection the Domain Board will always have to put its hands in iis pockets to hel|F them financially,” commented Mr Caro. “They have to rely on their gales for their revenue, and what chance can they have of securing a good gate on the occasion of a big fixture when the people are able to have a free look'/” It would be better to spend about £25 on a temporary hoarding for such an occasion than to close the parks in, said Mr Paul. The speaker would be very sorry to see any of the parks closed. Argument for a Stadium “It is just another argument in favour of an enclosed stadium,” commented Mr W. Fraser, who stated that cricketers did not like playing on a ground that was used for football in the winter, and runners did not want to use a cricket pitch. What was needed was an enclosed oval which would cater for all sports. “At present it seems to be general that the big sports fixtures have to provide the revenue for the running of the ordinary games.” Dr. H. Douglas stated that he would like to see the full scheme for Galloway Park put into operation, and Mr Caro agreed that it would be better to do that work at present, rather than wait until some time in the future. After further discussion it was decided to call a special conference with representatives of the Hamilton Borough Council and the Waikato and Waipa County Councils on April 27, when the matter would be discussed after an inspection of the grounds had been carried out.