SPORTS GROUNDS AT PETONE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 51, 1 March 1921, Page 8

SPORTS GROUNDS AT PETONE

RUGBY v. LEAGUE

ANEW ALLOCATION.

The annual battle for the allocation of the various playing areas on the Petone Recreation Ground took place at the Petone Borough Council last evening. The principal point at issue was the allocation of the oval known * as No. 1 ground, which is keenly coveted by botn the Rugby Union and the League football clubs. Last year the final decision of the council gave the ground to Rugby, but this ■ year the honours may be said to have gone to the League players, who are quite satisfied with being allotted the ground on alternate Saturdays. The ■ council chamber was well filled with representatives of the various sports bodies interested, and the debate was closely followed by the audience.

The following report was brought down by the Keserves Committee: — " Your committee begs to report that, as instructed, it. interviewed representatives of the, five "applying bodies for sports grounds upon, the Recreation Ground for the ensuing, season. . The Rugby Union delegates, in applying for the use of the oval and No. 3 ground, stated that the union would be agreeable to the council taking the whole of the gate. The other representatives of the various applying bodies also agreed to the council taking the whole of the gate receipts.. Your committee recommends that the grounds be allotted as follow: —Oval: Hockey Club from 1 to '3 in tha afternoon; Rugby Union and League on alternate Saturdays from 3 o'clock in the afternoon. No. 2: Rugby Union and League alternate Saturdays. No. 3: Hockey Club. No. 4: Association Club. One ground over stop-bank: Association Club. One ground over stopbank: Rugby Union." In connection with the gate receipts it should be noted that previously the council has taken 60 per cent, and the Bugby Union 40 per cent, of the takings; also 1 that'the Rugby .Union's decision to.forego a share in the gate receipts was contingent on the Union being granted the sole use of No. land 3 ground*. Councillor Andereon moved,, and' Councillor Tovey seconded, that- the report of the committee be adopted. , An amendment by the Mayor deferring consideration till after the Rugby Union and the League had been consulted-, and 9 an amendment by Councillor Broc-kelljank to leave the matter to th& incomingl council were defeated. . The motion was carried. Tor: Councillors Tovey, Cook, Anderson, Kyle, and Chu rehouse. Against: The Mayor, Councillors Brockelbank, Bedingfield, -and Hay. > ■ It was decided to imrmdiately notify the various sports bodies of the' decision.

It was also decided that all gate-mon«y should be taken by the council and that the Rugby Union be asked to observe the same conditions as last year regarding finals and semi-finals.

Councillor Tovey moved that the lower grounds be improved by the .cutting of a drain.

It was decided to obtain a report from th».engineer on the estimated cost.