CENTRAL PARK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 192, 29 July 1932, Page 5

CENTRAL PARK

MORE INFORMATION WANTED. WAIPAWA CLUB’S MEETING. From Our Own Correspondent. There was a good attendance at a special meeting of the Waipawa United Club called to discuss the question of Central Park and the motion suggesting that it should be sold. Mr W. J. Wood, a former president of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union presided. Mr R. Wynn, the club’s delegate on the management committee of the subunion, explained his reason for signing the petition for a special meeting. This drastic action would not have been taken he said, if it nau been possible to obtain a satisfactory statement as to the finances in connection with Central Park, and how it was proposed to meet the heavy overhead expenses. He pointed out that at the present time they were paying £76 a year interest £l2 general rates, £2 water rate, and £l5 for caretaker — well over £lOO. But the gate takings last year were only £BO, leaving a deficiency of £2O. Mr Norrie, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union had stated that unless the sub-union could meet its liabilities they would have to sell the ground, so that the subject matter of the motion to come up for consideration was no new thing. Mr Wood stated that he was chairman of the management committes when the purchase was made. Things were booming then and it looked a good business proposition. The subunion were driven to make the purchase owing to the unreasonable attitude of the Waipukurau Borough Council, who demanded 40 per cent of the gate takings at Russell Park. He suggested that the motion would not have given rise to so much feeling if it had been worded a little more' tactfully. Mr Kingston suggested that the financial difficulties could be overcome if the Rugby Union would give the sub-union a two-year’s holiday from the payment of interest. Mr A. Collett stated that if the information which had recently been given to country clubs by the chairman of the management committee been available to delegates before the motion would have been withdrawn.

it was resolved “That after hearing Mr Wynn’s explanation the club has every confidence in him as its delegate.” Messrs Wynn, Ashby, Kingston, and G. Knobloch were appointed delegates to attend the special meeting on Friday night.