A NIGHT OUT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 256, 26 July 1937, Page 12

A NIGHT OUT

Booking Seats For Springbok Test QUEUE OF SOME 300 First Man on Scene at 12.30 a.m. on Sunday A body in a. bug -outside Athletic Park at 12.30 a.ui. on Sunday was discovered by at least two policemen on their rounds. But “the body” had a good excuse —he was waiting for the booking for the Springbok matches in Wellington to open at 9 a.m. on Monday. It was not until about 10 o’clock on Sunday morning that lie was joined by other enthusiasts seeking lest match seats, but from that time onward the queue grew rapidly, and at midnight last night there were over 300 people waiting for the dawn in a cool southerly breeze. The equipment was varied. Overcoats, tarpaulins, sleeping-bags, boxes, one trumpet, a gramophone, balaclavas, rugs, sandwiches, flasks, books, and a multitude of cold noses and cheerful spirits. The queue had developed into an ordered community by midnight yesterday. There were even employers and employees, and a. code of “waiting ethics” had been commonly accepted. The first 20 or so were obviously a superior section of the line, for they had been waiting from at least 10 a.m. yesterday, but the late-comers had a little more spirit. The trumpeter wavered an extensive selection of popular melodies into the night air, and a little lower down the line a gramophone scratched a brave opposition. Most of the line wore overcoats and stood propped against the wall, but the more experienced were bedded down in comfort and seemed to be assured of some sleep. It was difficult to find anyone among the earlier arrivals who was not going to sell his seats. About 40 men were working for a speculator, but those after the first 200 were keener about seeing the football than making money.

The rules were strict but not unreasonable. A "queuer” was allowed to leave his position for short intervals, but anything over half an hour was no: countenanced. The record-breaker, had had six hours’ relief during the day so that he might go home to sleep, and he was facing his second night in the open last night. lie seemed undaunted but he said his price was going to be high. His next-door neighbour referred scathingly to those who had not arrived until 7 p.ra. yesterday as ho had sat, or been sat for, since 10 o’clockin the morning.

At midnight the line held over 300, sitting, lying ami standing bundles, each with a vision. For some the vision was banknotes, but for the real enthusiasts it was 15 bounding Springboks being beaten by 15 invincible AH Blacks.