$2OOO TO GAMES

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32777, 30 November 1971, Page 16

$2OOO TO GAMES

‘Many saw display free’

The variety evening and fireworks display at Addington Raceway on Saturday evening netted slightly over $2OOO for the Commonwealth Games Fund. The chairman of the Games organisation’s fund-raising committee (Mr N. R. Searell) said yesterday that the return was a little disappointing and was so largely because of the fact that many people entered the course without paying.

Somehow, he said the gate through which horse floats gained entrance to the course was opened, after being secure earlier, and it was certain that hundreds entered there without paying. It was known, also, that other illicit entrances to the course were made. The crowd was estimated at about 23,000 and gate receipts were $4BOO. Of this the Games committee had to pay $2500 to the firm which produced the fireworks display and met other sundry expenses of about $3OO, said Mr Searell. However, he said, the evening had proved very popular and it was likely that a similar programme would be held again in each of the two years before the Games. “Next time, though, our security will be much tighter.”