PLANS FOR STADIUM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 118, 19 April 1932, Page 6

PLANS FOR STADIUM

WINTER SHOW PROJECT. WORK TO PROCEED. Tho announcement that arrangements were being proceeded with tor the erection of an up-to-date permanent stadium at the Showgrounds was made by the president (Mr M. A. Eliott) at the meeting of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association to-day, when amended plans for the project were submitted. The president stated that seating accommodation you Id bo provided for 1036 people, and standing room lor a further 500. There would be seats all round the stadium, which would have a raised ring 3ft Gin high, and 24ft square, with additional elevated floor space for gymnastic displays or concert functions. The Manawatu Boxing Association had offered to donate seating accommodation in its possession, and that would provide for 250 people. Provision had been made for dressing rooms and all necessary facilities required for an up-to-date stadium. The total cost to the A. and P. Association, stated Mr Eliott, would not exceed £l5O. Estimates had been taken out and members of the Citizens’ Show Committee had undertaken to provide tho labour free. The expenditure to be incurred would bo less by £IOO than the amount authorised by tho association’s committee. It had been agreed that a small admission charge should be made to all fixtures, and entertainments suggested for the Winter Show were a Maori entertainment on the Wednesday evening, Y.M.C.A. display on the Thursday, a wrestling contest on the Friday and a boxing contest on the Saturday. Each fixture would bo a little over an hour in duration and tho request had been made that the closing hour for th,e Show should be extended from 10 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. “We will have an up-to-date stadium with seating for over 1000 persons at, a cost not exceeding £150,” stated the president. Mr J. A. Russell inquired ill which part of the buildings the stadium would be located.

The president said it would be erected in No. 5 hall near the poultry hall. f‘When a children’s concert was held there four or five years ago the roosters started crowing and that was all that could be heard,” stated Mr Russell. The president said there would he a partitioning wall and provision would be made for access through the halls to the poultry exhibition. Suggestions had been advanced, continued the president, for improving the ceiling of the industrial ball and removing its dingy appearance. Spraying had at first been contemplated, but that would be costly, and it was now proposed to place in position five or six large screens suspended from the roof across the aisles. Thoy would be double-sided, 3ft. wide by 20ft. long arid would carrv national trade slogans. The suggestion had been advanced that the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association and the Trade Societv would be prepared to contribute half of the cost of about £SO, towards which Mr A. Hopwood had offered to donate £5. Tho association would have to meet the other half of the cost involved. The screens would add verv materially to tire appearance of the hall. The committee, which had prepared plans for the 6tadium, and Mr Hopwood, were accorded a vote of thanks, and approval was given for the work. It was stated that if the other organisations to be approached were unprepared to assist financially, the matter would have to be further considered.