RUGBY UNION ANSWERS CRITIC ON TERMS FOR SOCCER TEST MATCH

Evening Star, Issue 26137, 26 June 1947, Page 8

RUGBY UNION ANSWERS CRITIC ON TERMS FOR SOCCER TEST MATCH

Financial arrangements between the Otago Football Association and the Otago Rugby Football Union for the use of Carisbrook for the Soceer test match between South Africa and New Zealand on Saturday, July 5, were explained by the secretary of the 0.R.F.U., Mr E. S. Wilson, to-dav, when commenting on a letter from “ A Real Sport ” to the ‘ Star.’ .“ A Real Sport ” wrote; “Much has been written in the ‘Star’ and the ‘Star Sports ’ about the wonderful gesture of the O.R.F.U. granting to the' Football Association Hie use of Carisbrook for _ the' test game against the South Africans. “ AVhen one first read the announcement one had a real feeling of gratitude to the Rugby officials for their sportsmanship, but now, when the cold, hard facts are leaking out to the public, things are different.

“ The story goes as follows:—2s per cent, of the gate; 600 seats in the stand free to holders of ground members’ tickets; and a little bit of the programmes, plus all the O.R.F.U. gatemen. On top of this, Mr E. Kerr would like to see Rugby games played also. “ Given a fine day and taking the average ‘ gates ’ this season at the rough-and-tumbles I have seen, the O.R.F.U. are financially ‘ on the pig’s back ’ for the next six weeks. In the northern centres percentages are also charged, but these, facte .were made known to the public, not hidden behind a closed, balance sheet.” " ENTIRELY ACCEPTED." When this letter was referred to Mr Wilson, he said that the conditions under which the Otago Football Association had been allowed the use of Carisbrook had been entirely accepted by the controlling body of Association football. A deputation from the Otago Football Association had waited on the Otago Rugby Football Union, and it had been agreed to grant the use of Carisbrook at a charge which is made by ground owners throughout New Zealaud. The association had agreed that the Rugby Union- was bound to keep its contract with its ground members. This contract had to be fulfilled, irrespective of the engagement at Carisbrook. It. was at the request of the association that gatemen were being provided by the union. The association was at liberty to publish its own programmes, but Mr .Wilson said, his proposal regarding the’programmes had been accepted by the associatoin. ' Mr Wilson said Mr Kerr had suggested that games should be played on July 5 because a playing Saturday had been lost. He had intended that matches should be begun early at grounds adjacent to Carisbrook.