STRONG EXCEPTION TAKEN

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 219, 13 June 1945, Page 8

STRONG EXCEPTION TAKEN

Rugby Union Letter To Hdckey Association Strong exception was taken at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Hockey Association to the terms used by tl e.Wet-liii'-ton Rughv Union, lu acknowledging a letter from the association declining to accede to a request tor the .exchange of a hockey ground “t for a Ru=by ground at Strand Park, Lower Hutt. In particular, exception was taken to the last paragraph of .the iimon s letter, wliicli read: “In connexion with the miouion of the gate takings at Hutt Kcereatlon Ground and Petone Kecreat on Ground, which have been made to your association year by year, I am directed t 0 advise you that any agreement wh ch was entered into in the past regarding the gates at these grounds will ecase to operate after this season.” . The chairman of the association, Mr. L. P. McKenzie, detailing the course of events leading to the association s refusal to exchange grounds and the unions reply, said that, tlie union’s approach to tlie association was hi the first place '’?rbal, between the secretaries. Later a t bis suggestion, a formal letter was forwarded by the union making the request tor the exchange. Tlie association had sought and received a report from its representatives in the Hutt Valley, and that report had been adverse on several grounds, the principal being lack of convenient transport, lack of adequate dressing-room aecoinmodiitlon, tlie need for at least three weeks delav before the ground at Stiand Park would lie in fit condition Cor hockey after Kugbv had been played on it. and the general unsuitability of the ground itself for ll( "Possihlv it is time we got the gloves off.” said Mr. A. Marshall. Us a petty thin- to do to give notice to cut tins money off just, because we do not agree with their rcQuewt.” "It’s blackmail.” said another member, SHrtll. '£.s' huS'cS S.S and the Petone Borough Council, as owners ot the grounds concerned, was made bj The’coniinittee n decided to send a letter t< the union stating that strong exception was taken to the tone ot the last paragraph of the letter and enclosing extracts from tlie report on which the association had decided not ot accede to the requestedlt°XwasnMso decided that the chairman should take up the matter personally wi.h the cbairmaii of the Rugby union.