PLANS REJECTED BY ENGINEER

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 15 September 1937, Page 12

PLANS REJECTED BY ENGINEER

TEMPORARY STAND FOR THIRD TEST DIFFICULTIES OF AUCKLAND UNION [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND. September 14. After having obtained the approval of the New Zealand Rugby Union on Monday evening for the erection of a further auxiliary stand at Eden Park for the third and final test match between the All Blacks and the Springboks on Saturday week, officials of the Auckland Rugby Union found on investigation to-day that it may not be possible to proceed with the scheme. The proposal outlined and agreed upon by the New Zealand Union was for the placing of a temporary structure at the Sandringham road end of the Eden Park oval to provide seating accommodation for another 2500 persons. However, when the plans were submitted to an engineering firm they were not approved. The chairman of the Auckland Union, Mr A. A. Baker, who had the responsibility for the arrangements for the stand, stated that the cost of erecting a temporary structure to meet the requirements of the engineer were prohibitive, and it did not appear likely that the scheme could now be proceeded with. In the event of such a happening, the Auckland Union would make provision in that portion of the ground so that every spectator would obtain an uninterrupted view of Ihe match. Mr W. A. Gray, of the firm of Gray and Gulliver, to whom the scheme was submitted, stated that the design as suggested, together with the price for Auckland Rugby Union was prepared to pay for the stand, did not meet with his approval. The structure would be far 100 light to accommodate 2500 persons safely. To make it entirely satisfactory, heavier timber would ' have had to have been used, in addition to a greater volume of material. Emphasising the great care that had to be exercised in the passing of such designs, Mr Gray said that every possible precaution must be taken to minimise the risk of such stands collapsing. He knew of a number of cases where accidents had happened, in some instances lives having been lost.