RUGBY OR HOCKEY?

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 73, 26 March 1912, Page 3

RUGBY OR HOCKEY?

USE OF THE HUTT RECREATION GROUND. .WELLINGTON~UNION'S PLEA. The question- of what to do with the local Recreation Ground during the wintor season was before th« Hutt Borough Council last evening. The council on a previous occasion had received an offer from th& Wellington Rugby Union, to which certain objections were made. Tho union repeated its offer. The Wellington. , Hockey Association offered £7 10s for such hockey ground on the Recreation Ground, provided the council undertook to mafic out and prepare tho ground. ' \ ' The secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union (Mr. W. G. Talbot) wrote, stating that, the union was unable to pay more than had been previously offered- — that is the same as/the terms cxising last season — £25 rent plus one-third of grass gate takings. "We will be pleased," concluded Mr. Talbot, "to pay the; amount we offer. Wo are not a wealthy body, and are not- a money-making concern — simply an amateur organisation doing our best for the players of Rugby in Wellington and suburbs, spending whatever funds aye available to further the interests of our play'ei'E." These last r^aiarks were reoeived with I considerable amusement by several eotu> cillors. | Councillor Ball : They ought to be taken up for libel — "nob as a money* making concern !" i Several councillors objected to the union getting thft ground and not play. >ng decent matches there. They 'ought to have some good football at the Hutt i instead of the second and third-rate matches they had had last year. Tho Major (Mr. £T. P. Bunny) pointed out that the union made a better offer than had been made by the Hockey Association. Councillor Roots moved that the Rugby Union's offer should be accepted. This was secouded. ' Councillor Ball moved, as an amendment, that the oiler be accepted, provided not fev/er than four senior matches should be played on the ground, during the season. < , The amendment was lost and the motion carried. The use of the Recreation Ground was granted the Waiwetu Football Club for Easter Saturday, with a proviso that the Rugby Union consented to this arrangement. (