Park “reasonably committed”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32640, 23 June 1971, Page 32

Park “reasonably committed”

Lancaster Park was “reasonably committed” as the main stadium for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, the chairman of the Victory Park Board (Mr A. G. Williams) said last evening.

“The board understands from discussions with the Games organising committee that the park is to be the venue for the track and field events. We would be surprised if a change was made at this stage,” said Mr Williams.

He was commenting on a reported statement made yesterday by Mr R. S. Scott the chairman of the Games organising committee, that Lancaster Park had yet to be confirmed as the main stadium, and that “a lot of hidden cost factors” would be involved in its use. Mr Williams said that as far as his board was concerned, the details were still a matter for negotiation with the Games organisation. It was the duty of his

board to protect the interests of the sports which use the park, Mr Williams said. He understood that representatives of the Games organisation would be invited to meet members of the Canterbury Cricket Association in the near future. The cricket association’s chairman (Mr I. P. Anderson) said that he did not wish to make a statement regarding requests that it had made fot compensation for the loss of the park for two seasons until after discussions had been held by the Games committee.

Mr Anderson said that he was surprised that Mr Scott had chosen to make public details of the cricket association’s proposals before they had been discussed.

A report that the C.C.A. had listed 23 items in its proposals was issued by Mr Scott. These included “an immediate and unconditional" payment of $15,000, with a likely maximum amount of $30,000 to be required.

The assistance of the Games committee was requested in improving Hagley Oval, with provision fot broadcasting, newspaper, television, spectator and players’ facilities, a booth licence, and permission to charge admittance to the ground.