A NEW STAND

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 27 May 1925, Page 9

A NEW STAND

FOR ATHLETIC PARK

REPLY TO COMPLAINTS AND

SUGGESTIONS.

"Had it not been for the disastrous season experienced the new stand which it is proposed to erect at Athletic Park may have been under way," remarked Mr. J. Prendeville, chairman of the Wellington .Rugby Union, when advised of a complaint which had been made regarding inconvenience suffered by patrons at Athletic Park last Saturday. "Thanks to the generous support of the public in the present season so far as it has progressed it is highly probable that the Management Committee will bring down a scherrfe next month for tho erection of the new stand at tho Park. A meeting of delegates may be hold nest month, and to this meeting the commit-tee-may recommend that a portion at least of tho new stand bo erected during next summer."

The complaint about inconvenience at Athletic Park last Saturday was made by a correspondent ("Rhcumaticy Old Timer"), who stated that the AVellington Rugby Union had earned the name of "tho Rugby Union Packing Company" through the way in which it packed the "sixpenny-admission-to-the-stand" patrons. The complainant stated that although the cry of "standing room only" was carried on the official at the stile continued to collect the extra sixpences. Among a number who managed to get out again and make for the bank wore several old-timers wbo could not'afford to pay for season-tickets or reserved seats. "Some of these old-timers," tho correspondent stated, "have helped the good old game in the past, and have done their bit to bring the game np to the present standard, and are now suffering from old injuries, rheumatism, and other complaints through the hardships they suffered in the old days.'' A reference is also made to the officials, the correspondent suggesting that whilo they and their friends "can fondle themselves in comfort in the stand, the oldtimers have to sit on the cold concrete steps and freeze." Further, the suggestion is made that an up-to-date twodecker stand should be built to take the place of the present "barn." With regard to the crowding of the present stand, Mr. Prendeville pointed out that the congestion was due to people remaining at the entrance and at the northern end. It was a difficult matter to get them to move along to the southern end. The usual practice when the stand was full was to issue warnings to those still desirous of entering, but this also had, little effect. As for the officials and the places they occupied in the stand, the chairman said that half the members of the committee were generally on other grounds each Saturday, and those who were at the Park were usually carrying out duties until after the match started. It was only reasonable to expect that those who gave up their time during the week to keep the machinery going should have seats kept for them.

As a means of raising money for the purpose of erecting a stand the correspondent suggested that an art union might be conducted on similar lines to those being held on behalf of Rugby football in the South Island. "Surely we can do it in Wellington," the correspondent adds. "We Wellington sports by buying their art union tickets are helping them to do as wo would like to be done'by." On this matter Mr. PrencleviUe was not prepared to express an opinion.