LEAGUE OR RUGBY?

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17225, 16 August 1921, Page 6

LEAGUE OR RUGBY?

_-.—» ' > USE OP LANCASTER PABK. An innocent clause in a report presented tp the .City Council night led to a short discussion on the use- of Lancaster Park; The Reserves Committee stated that the Canterbury Rugby Football League had applied for the exclusive use of Sydenham Park from 1 p.m. on Saturday, the 27th instant, on the occasion of the Auckland v. Canterbury interprovincial football match. The committee had granted the request. Cr. Archer said it was time that somebody ishould protest against the high-handed action of the Canterbury Rugby Union.' Lancaster Park, was not theirs. ' Cr. Winsor: Is this in orderP The Mayor: I think it is. Cr„ Winsor: It is bringing in altof ether a different matter, Lancaster 'ark has nothing whatever to do with the matter. I object to it strongly!. Cr. Archer: My contention is that Lancaster Park has! every thing' to "do with it. TJhe Mayor: I think so too. . 'Cr. Archer:, Thank you k _ Cr, Winsor:, I must object. , Cr. Hervey: So do I. It does not bear on the point at all. ; The -Mayor: I have given my ruling/ Cr. Archer: T submit you are the person to decide whether I am in order or not. The Mayor: Yes. Cr. Archer: When you are agreeing with me yon are right." (Laughter.) The Mayor: As you are an archer, you might shoot me, (Renewed laughter.) Cr. Archer: Lancaster Park was paid for by the whole city, and should bo available for all types of sport. The Mayor said that by the Victory Park Act the jurisdiction over the Park as far as football was concerned was in the hands of the Canterbury Rugby Union. . Cr. Hervey.: And rightly so. Cr. Archer: The Rugby Union should be sports enough to meet the other people. Cr. Hervey: Before Lancaster Park ■was acquired the Rugby Union had £2300 in it themselves. That was put in when it was necessary for somebody ]to save' the Park. Whv should other ' ]xx>ple come in now and benefit ? Tho Rugby ■ Union . have a right to the ground. The Mayor snitl that as far as Lancaster Park was concerned the . Act niado provision for other sports, including Rugby League. Rugby Leapue was as much an amateur game in this city an Rugby Union. Cr. Archer. Hear, hear. Cr.' Hervey: In this city. The Council adopted the report.