TAHUNA PARK

Evening Star, Issue 18736, 11 September 1924, Page 9

TAHUNA PARK

RUGBY UNION SECURES FURTHER LEASE. SOCIETY’S MORAL OBLIGATION. The first round in tho battle between the Otago Rugby Union and tho Otago Rugby League for grounds was decided yesterday, and ended in a bloodless victory for the Rugby Union. Both bodies recently waited on the Agricultural and Pastoral Society respecting Tahuna Park, tho union asking for a renewal of their lease, and tho league requesting that the lease should be put up at public auction. The A. and P. Association left the matter to the executive and the Ground Committee, and as the result of their deliberations yesterday the Rugby Union was granted a five years’ lease. Tho Rugby Union’s present lease expires at the end of tho month.

Mr E. F. Duthie, secretary of the A. and P. Society, made the following statement to a ‘ Star ’ reporter to-day respecting tho matter:—“Representatives of the union and the league,” ho said,' “ w'aited on ray committee respecting tho, lease of Tahuna Park, and after full consideration it was decided to give the union an extension of the lease for a term of five years, with certain rights, both regarding the use of the ground and in respect to the cancellation of tho lease in case the A. and P. Society decides to . sell the’ ground. Tho main reason for coming to this decision was that tho committee felt that, though it was not under any legal obligation, it was under a moral obligation to grant an extension, of the lease to the Rugby Union.” The following is the copy of a letter sent to the secretary of the Football League to-day:—“Referring to tho deputation that waited on the executive in connection with the lease of Tahuna Park for football matches during the season 1925, we find on going through our records and minutes in conncciio'n with the lease of these grounds that a tentative understanding was made with the Rugby Union in April, 1922, giving the Rugby Union .not only prior claim on the grounds, but also a right which might reasonably be construed as an extension of the lease. The committee, after carefully reviewing the whole position, decided to offer the Rugby Union a five years’ lease of Tahuna Park under certain conditions, which they havo now accepted. Tho committee feels assured that your league will fully understand the position, and under the'circumstances it would not have been fair to call for tenders or offer the lease for sale by auction when my committee recognised that, apart from the fact that the union has been our tenants for several years, it was justly entitled to preference.”

LEAGUE DISAPPOINTED. Mr H. Divers, secretary of the Rugby League, stated that his body was somewhat disappointed that the lease had not been let out by public tender. He said that the league would have been prepared to offer at least £3OO, which, ho understood, was a sum considerably in excess of that accepted from the union.