ENCROACHING CROWDS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18677, 28 April 1926, Page 8

ENCROACHING CROWDS.

RUGBY UNION DISCUSSION. Encroachment of spectators oh the south and west grounds at Lancaster Park was again discussed at last night's meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union. Mr J. K. Maloney referred particularly to the encroachment of the crowd on the west ground. It should not bo used for senior games, in the interests of players. The public was getting enough for its money with games on the Oval and the south ground, and last Saturday neither team had a fair go. One senior game should be played on some outside ground for propaganda purposes. He moved that it be.a re-/ commendation that the third senior game lie played at the Show Grounds or some other outside ground. Mr C. S. McCully seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr S. F. Wilson, who said that if tne game between Old Boys and Linwood had not been even, the spectators would have rushed the west ground, and it would have been impossible to continue the game there. Mr Maloney said they should not think of the mercenary side all the time, and consideration was due to the players. Mr McCully said they were beating the wind by playing all the senior A games at Lancaster Park. They were trying to encourage football in the outer areas, yet they were putting on all the attractive matches in the City. Mr R. H. North said the state of the grounds at the Park later in the season would probably force them to play senior A matches at the Show Grounds. Mr A. Barrett said Lancaster Park was the home of football, and the crowd would go there even to see good junior matches. Mr Wilson said people would go only where the goods were produced. Several years ago the Show Grounds matches drew record gates.The chairman said the senior players had objected before to going out to the Show Grounds, and their wishes had been met.

Mr Wilson said the public might have interfered with the result of one match in which Merivale was engaged. Mr E. V. Phillips said that if a vote was taken among senior players, it would be found that the great majority would want to play on Lancaster Park. Mr Wilson: And so would the juniors, but we control football. Mr Maloney repeated that he strongly favoured the withdrawal of all Senior A games from the west ground. Mr W. Britten said the Competitions Committee would give the proposal "a fair go." The motion was then withdrawn.