THIRD TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 128, 1 June 1937, Page 8

THIRD TEST.

SPRINGBOK TOUR.

VENUE OF MATCH CHANGED?

- — ~ — — ■ "'IIM« |J J SHOWGROUNDS TO EDEIT PABK Subject to the approval .f the tna n<g meiit committee of t',i,- New Zealand Hugby I'nion. tin' 11 •ii •! Te«t match lietw evil the >piin-jb<.k- and the All Mack*. which wa« to have been played at the Showgrounds. l-.p will now !»• starred at Kden Paik. headijuarterg of Rugby in Auckland for many vears.

When till- New Zealand Kngbv Uniog decided to ]day tlie third T f ., t at Show grounds. a strong protest w* s lodged by tiie Kden Park Hoard of Con. trol and the Kden Park trustees. Negotiation-- between Mr. <. S. Dean chairman of the management cnmmitte# of the New Zealand T'nion. t!io Aupkland Utility Union and the EJen Park Hoard of Control followed.

Conference- between Mr. Dean and the Eden Park Board of Control were held at Eden Park on Saturday and Sunday. Further consideration of the question was given by the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union last night, and. following the meeting, n telegram was sent to the Xew Zealand Union stating that the Auckland Union would 110 longer oppose the change. A special meeting of the management committee of the Xew Zealand Union is to be held in Wellington either to-day or to-morrow. It is exacted that the controlling body will approve of the change of venue from the Showgrounds to Eden Park.

It is understood that the Auckland Pugby Union approved of the change lmck to Kden Park only after being given an undertaking that a comprehensive scheme for the complete development of Kden Park would 1m? started immediately. Improvements to be undertaken include the realignment of the slopes in front of the score board at the Dominion Road end of \"n. 1 ground, and jlie regrading of the bank in front of tne grandstand enclosure.

It is anticipated that the improvement* will be carried out in time for the Auckland-Springboks match on .Tilly 24. Work on the scheme will start as soon as the approval of the NewZealand Union is received. It is hoped that a start will lie made to-morrow.

As a result of the proposed improvements it is expected that the capacity of Eden Park will he increased by several thousands. The l>i;nrest crowd ever to attend a football match in New Zealand was that which watched the All Black-British Test at Eden Park in 1930. when 45.200 attended.