DEVELOPING RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 7

DEVELOPING RUGBY

THE QUESTION OF THOSE GROUNDS

NEW STAND AT ATHLETIC PARK,

A special meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union was held last evening to consider the important question of "ground policy" that provision might be made well ahead for the certain growth of the game in the future.

The objects and aims of the union, said the chairman, Mr. J. Prendeville, in view of the facts that there were no shareholders working for dividends, no promoters having claims upon it for proprietary dividends, and that no personal payments were to be made, should be to co-operate with local bodies in developing playing areas so that the game could be extended and the number of players increased.

In a town and district of something over 100,000 population there were now 130 teams, wherae in other towiis outside the Dominion there were only about a d'osen senior teams, and not many juniors.

He considered that every lad who was physically fit should take up some game, Rugby, Soccer, hockey, something; Rugby for preference. The problem was as to whether improvements should be carried out at the Park with a view of making it a better revenue-producing proposition or whether the union should go ahead with schemes for developing other . grounds. The Adelaide road scheme had unfortunately been found to be beyond the means of the union, though it might be possible to persuade the City Council to co-operate in the matter. He was afraid, however, that the idea would have to be abandoned. In the meantime the union must look about for other grounds capable of development at a reasonable expenditure or to. City Council fields in the development of which the union could cooperate with the Corporation. A general discussion then followed, in committee, upon the question of whether the policy should be to proceed with improvements at Athletic Park, chiefly by way of erecting a new stand with a capacity of 4000, or with the development of grounds elsewhere, at Petone and in-the Hutt Valley.

The chairman mentioned in open meeting that no difficulty was anticipated in the conversion of the present lease of the Park to a 21-years' lease, with perpetual right of renewals, the rental to be fixed either by arbitration at the time of renewal or upon the basis of not more than 5 per cent, of the value as fixed by thd Valuation Department. It was decided to go thoroughly into a scheme for the purchase of a ground at Petone or the Hutt, and also to recommend to the trustees that estimates be obained for the erection of a new stand at Athletic Park.