GATE MEN'S PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1938, Page 8

GATE MEN'S PAY.

INCREASE PROPOSED.

SPORTS' BODIES CONCERN

DEPUTATION TO HON. W. PARRY. As far as the welfare of sport in this country is concerned, let me assure you that you have a friend at court," the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. YV. Parry, told a deputation of sporting bodies which waited upon him to-day to outline the difficult position in which M I M,I 't generally would be placed if the scope of the award for front of house theatre employees was extended to include pate men employed by sports bodies.

I will see that you are faced with the smallest possible number of difficulties/' declared the' Minister,, who, after hearing what the deputation had to say, promised to confer with the Minister of Labour regarding the position of sports bodies.

J he speakers for the deputation were Messrs. A. A. Baker, representing winter sports, \V. R. Fee, summer sports, and YV. F. O'Donnell, who appeared for the 41 agricultural and pastoral associations in the province.

The position, as they outlined it, was that the union pressing for a front of ho,«e employees' award desired to include sports ground gate men. The deputation took strong exception to the term "industry of sport," which was used in the Arbitration Court bv the advocate for the union, and was alarmed to think of the consequences should higher pay be fixed for the gate men.

Gate Receipts Dropping. "If we have to pay more wages to gate men, our activities will be handideclared Mr. Baker, who emphasised that there was no private fain in sport. He admitted that sports took \ery good gates at some grounds, but explained that this had to be expended on ground rentals in suburban areas and in keeping the game going generally. Lately sports bodies' troubles had been increased, as gate takings were definitely dropping. This he attributed to the increased number of participants. J hat's a good thing," commented the Minister; there are too many lookers-j

? a J Cer Sald most gatekeepers employed by sports bodies were old players, many unemployable in other few ,r!. Were S lad t0 the them Tt ' lhngS the *° b bro »S ht em. It was a recognition of their previous services to the game. The deputation felt, he said, that the I.C. and A. Act should be amended to give total exemption to all sporting bodies No reason was seen why the law could not bo amended.

Confidence that representations from sports bodies would receive the utmost consideration of the Minister was expressed by Mr. Fee, who dwelt particuarly on the effect of sport in raising health standards. Most sports bodied he said, were struggling constantly with finances. They were dependent on spontaneous subscriptions irom citizens to keep going. Cricket, in which he was particularly interested, would be hard nit by the proposed inclusion of irate men in the award. Tennis and other affecTed ?P ° rtS W ° uld be »™«arly A. and P. Associations. The same arguments were advanced y • ix °' DHnne ll> who, claiming that agricultural and pastoral shows were associated with sport and were in addition distinctly educational in their effect said the associations would be placed in the same position. Labour costs for small shows often outweighed profits, and the associations were forced to rely on volunteer labour.

He asked that the associations should be allowed to enjoy the same privileges as they had in the past. Promising that he would discuss the matter fully with the Minister of Labour, and let the deputation know the results as soon as possible, Mr. Parry expressed doubt whether the majority of gatekeepers were satisfied, as the speakers had claimed, with present remuneration.

"Where there's smoke there's fire " he declared. "While I am a friend of the sporting bodies of tke Dominion, I want to remind you that I am also a friend c-i the fellow who has to get a living I have heard that quite a lot of these people are complaining that they do not get enough when the amount of gate money received is taken into compari-

Leslie O Donoghue, aged 19, a fireman employed at the Franklin railway station, suffered injuries which necessitated his removal to the Waikato Hospital when the car which he was driv- «.«* collided with a goods train at the Claudelands crossing, Hamilton East, about 7.30 this evening.