RUSH FOR SEATS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 244, 28 July 1936, Page 2

RUSH FOR SEATS

THE RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH.

SALES MADE AS HIGH AS 30/5.

(Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, July 27.

A few hours after they had been purchased, tickets entitling the holders to seats in the brand-stand at the Ranful'ly Shield match between O-tago‘and Southland, at Carisbrook on Saturday, though purchased at, 3s (M, were being sold at prices ranging from £1 to £1 109.

While it had been expected that there would be a great demand for seats at the opening of the box plan at Begg and Co.’s this morning, the rush. for tickets was so great that the formation of a queue outside the oflice began at 4 o’clock on Sunday afternoon and any who joined it later did so at the risk of. being unable _to obtain tickets. In fact, a Southlander who made a. special trip to Dunedin by motor, arriving at 3 o’clock this morning, was one of those who were disappointed. The arrangements made Iby Begg and Co. saved those who took their place in the queue a long wait in the open on a very cold night. As they formed up outside the office they were given a ticket bearing their number in the queue and were allowed to proceed to the Y.M.C.A. building, where they were made as comfortable as possible. So rapidly did the numbers of claimants for seats grow that by midnight on Sunday more than 350 tickets had been issued. As each person was entitled to book six seats, the disposal of the greater number of 2500 seats available was thus ensured. Before 3 o’clock ticket No. 4001 had been allotted, and any who arrived subsequently were advised that they took their place in the waiting crowd at the risk of eventually not being able to obtain tickets. Paid Deputies. It is stated that a number of those who Were earliest in the queue took their places not out of enthusiasm but as paid {deputies of others who desired to avoid a long wait. The number who were thus employed received as much las £l, and at least one case is known in which payment of that amount had to be made without the expected (return, because the deputy arrived too late to be assured of receiving tickets, and found on reaching the booking office that all the seats had been sold. A man who was among the first arrivals in the queueand required only two of the six tickets which he was able to purchase disposed of the remaining four at 7s 6d each. It is unlikely that he would have done so, however, had he known that shortly afterwards that the popular price of re-sales was to be 15$, and that the amount would have risen by the early afternoon to £1 10s n a' few cases. Shah-p Practice. At least one instance of sharp practice. was revealed. It appears that a person to whom ticket 421 in the queue was issued early in the morning decided in view of the warning that he might not be able to obtain seats that it would be more profitable ~to sell- his place and not wait. To ensure a. ready sale for the ticket he set about removing the figure “1”, and careful folding of the ticket made the erasure less ‘ apparent. The ticket was soon exchang‘ed for a pound note, but a. later examination raised doubts which were shown to be only too well founded.

INVASION FROM SOUTHLAND. DUNEDIN TO BE TAKEN BY STORM. INVEROAR-GILL, July 27 . The phenomenal interest being taken in the Ranfurly Shield! match between Otago and S‘outhland at Dunedin on Saturday was shown when the 170 stand seats allotted to Southlandl were literally sold before the plan was opened this morniing. ‘ One man waited from" 11 o’clock last night, and he was joined by others, including women, after midnight. The weather was cold and foggy. Southlanders are determined to take Dunedin by storm on Saturday. Already about 2000 seats have 'been booked on special trains, and it is believed that 4000 or 5000 will go north by roadhraif, and air. O'ne party is reported to be makiing the journey on bicycles. It was learned to-day that the arrangements made by the Railway Department for the transportation of the crowds on all lines. in Otago and Southalnd represent probably the biggest undertaking of the kind in the history of the railways.