ON WITH THE WORK!

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 25 March 1926, Page 4

ON WITH THE WORK!

MEETING RUGBY'S NEEDS

vNEW. STAND AT ATHLETIC PARK

W DELEGATES" APPROVE OF V PROPOSAL.

„'/V'".T_e proposal to erect a new fgrihastaiid at-Athletic Piirk was t 'leartily.' endorsed by delegates to ' .the annual meeting of the "Wellingj.ton Rugby Union last evening. The J opinio— was expressed that the" ataM, wMcli, ii is hoped, will be favMlabW fol" the- 192.7 season, would be a-good'paying proposition, l__ «J>itO: of the cost;-estimated at J';_'3o,ooo. ,f-:'*'The question of a new stand at ('Athletic Park has' been a subject of: discussion for many years," said Mr. ij. P-rendeville, chairman of the rehiring. Management Committee. "Dur-' ling; the^ last' recess- we' have made a definite' step' forward." He explained Tthat'OTer- SISOO was: actually in'hand ifor". the rebuilding fund. Plans which" rli__ been' prepared showed that the" 'proposed stand would seat some 6150 people, and without wings it would _eat: 4600-people; The estimate" of tho 'cott..--30,000,. as" given in the annual VepMfoiwM only a very rough one, and ie? believed .that it could bo eonsider'ably decreased. '• T-kei question for the delegates to jde'eide -was whether the time was ripe .or the- union' to:- build; a-: new stand. JThe general idea> of the retiring Management Committee was to get the tpUnr and specifications" settled, and ■>e_lL<for tenders" as early" as possible, 'SbKtna't the contractor could take pos'Jrfe&sion*ofthe- ground on Ist- October, "and go straight ahead? with- the work. New- Zealand; Rugby' Union, he ;»kia,. had' been approached regarding jtho matter, and support from that hodj. was assured. Ho considered that ■for the future success of the union the Matter should not- b6v postponed any Jong'er, and he hoped that the new stand would be-" an accomplished work •by"; the:-.time-; the 1927 season opened. He moved:: "That this• meeting ap-[pW*es:\of-:tlievpropOsal to proceed with (the erection> of a mw stand at Athietib* Pa*rkV' i Mr. S. S. Dean, in seconding the motion",' said that- from a financial point «f5 View," although" the figure suggested •'"WW*; *• 'Very' big- one,. he was sure it (wouid be''a-paying, proposition in the song run. Mr. Dean said the past experience of- the New Zealand Rugby iUuion-and the "Wellington Rugby Union isnWed that temporary stands were an iefejmomib'waste. On the' tour of the il9'2«V All.Blacks the party had seen, in places" ii'ot so big" as "Wellington, some exceedingly "fine" stands. The time had Jong passed when the stand accommoidation of Athletic Park was totally inadequate. "We' have to' move with the,times," he added.. "Rugby is still progressing in New Zealand, and it will continue to" progress; Wellington, as the metropolis, should go ahead and •have proper stand accommodation 3_esplau»'suggest' an excellent: stand, and'-I think-that" for. a Rugby football ground we shall have one of the finest Btands in the 'world; >> Dr.B.F. M'Eve'dy expressed delight at the idea of proceeding with tho ..jpytand. There .should' be no fear from Jl^fiMaVcial point •of view'; Ho- hoped, ' ho'weverj that'-the-stand would be constructed so that a second story might' -,be added, to provide for the future. He .jugge'sted" that an' overseas' team might be. brought to-Wellington for the opening of: tiie"-new" stand. Mr, Prendeville explained that, as fa.: as he knew, the architects: were making provision ■in the' foundations1 . for-a second' story to bo- erected when necessary. Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, C.M.G., president of the Wellington Rugby Unitih, said that the trustees had' been: very - anxious" to see' a new stand o'ni the; ground. Assured finance, lvow- : tsyer, was" necessary" in' order to proleedwith' tho work. He agreed entirely -With the motion, and-: felt sure that the.. incoming, committee would act wisely in considering tho various details. The; question of .finance was going, to-be-.a somewhat,difficult one,-par-ticularly as there was heavy expense In otier directions; ono of which was in providing.: for an. increasing number Df players. "If we are to" build a proper: stand, in accordance" with present ayd .future' iequirements,.". lie added, f'vre .haveh to' provide finance, and that ,Will,make; great inroads on our income. JT. hope .all matters will bo taken into consideration'-by the committee before Icommitting. this union to such a. large bbligation." |; TJie. motion-was carried unanimously,