LEAGUE CARNIVAL.

Grey River Argus, 8 December 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

LEAGUE CARNIVAL.

The West Coast Rugby League are out to have their new grounds put in first class order before the opening of the 1929 season, and it will not be for the lack of combined effort if they do not succeed in attaining their objective. Since the inception of the code on the West Coast in 1918, it has made truly’ astonishing progress, and each successive year finds the public following increasing, and the players becoming more numerous than ever before. The season 1919 found the League fielding but three teams, to-day the Centre has jurisdiction over tin less than thirty-five teams, including six from the schools—a truly wonderful progress. The game has taken on with both players and public alike, and now that visits from the best League teams in New Zealand are assured the people -of the district on the asking, it is only proper that the officials of the code should endeavour to further the march of progress by having a ground of their own. fitted out with appointments which make matters more comfortable for the players and the public supporting the

Although the progress of the ■ague has been most gratifying, it s been handicapped by the want of equate playing areas. Some years o, it donated £lOO to the Greymoutr trough Council towards improve•nts to the Recreation Ground, in .isideration of the use of that area, it other sports bodies also required c grounds, and consequently the .‘ague could not get it for sufficient lys in which to fulfil its fixtures. i?t season the Cobden ground was used at a cost of £72, and this also is unsatisfactory. Finding that the line had reached such a degree of qnilarity, the Centre were obliged to ake provision for having adequate ay ing fields for their many teams, id recently decided to purchase ten res at Coal Creek at a cost of £750. here remains the sum of £4OO still > pay before the code obtain the •eds, and it is with the object of lising this amount and the necesry funds for improvements that the >de are at present conducting the

campaign just commenced. An attractive programme has been drawn up by the Organiser (Mr E. I. Lord) and to-day will see the first bullet fired when a shop day will be held in the old shop, until recently occupied by Messrs Beck and po. The ground which has been purchased by the League is beautifully situated midway between Greymouth and Runanga, yet within easy distance of all centres under the code, it offers unique advantages from a transport point of view. Being on the main highway to Westport, the opening of the Coast Road will make possible visits from Westport teams to fulfil Saturday fixtures. That the ambitious project launched by the League executive is deserving of the patronage of all lovers of sport, will he adequately shown by the undoubted support, and the success of their efforts at the conclusion of their carnival. It should not require a special appeal to the code’s supporters to assist in this effort, for their enthusiasm in the game has althc opportunity is afforder them ofhav wavs been most marked, and now that ing something to which they can point as a monument of progress to the game and their district they will double their interest in the effort to win.