USE OF PARK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 13

USE OF PARK

PEOTEST AT OTAHUHU DEPUTATION TO MAYOR LEAGUE CODE'S COMPLAINTS Objections to the decision of the Otahuhu Borough Council to grant the football playing rights on Sturges Park exclusively to the Auckland Rugby Union were strongly voiced by a deputation from the Otahuhu Rugby League Club, -which waited on the Mayor, Mr. C. R. Petrie, M.P., last night. Mr. W. Arnold said the League football interests in Otahuhu had not been fairly treated in the arrangement nor in the past years in the allocation of Sturges Park for playing facilities. Mr. W." Bright claimed that the League code should have a fair share of the playing rights. The members of the League club had never been informed that the Rugby Union had made any offer for the sole use of the ground until the report appeared in the Herald. "The park belongs to the people, and under the decision reached the Borough Council is taking the privileges from the local people and granting them to Auckland interests,'' continued Mr. Bright. " Not Received a Fair Spin " Mr. J. Clark said the Park Committee of the council had always treated the League club unfairly, and the code had "not received a fair spin." He said the League would have been just as keen to offer 20 j><?r cent of the gate drawings for the use of the ground. In reply, the Mayor said his personal interests lay neither with L'nion nor League. As Mayor, he had to seek after the best interests of the ratepayers and the borouch. When he assumed office he found the maintenance and other charges of Sturges Park had been a burden on the ratepayers. He had caused a special committee to be set up to report on fees for the use of the playing area by sports bodies. They had been circularised last year as to how they could assist in arriving at an agreement. A conference was suggested and held in August last. Quoting from the minute of that meeting, the Mayor said the local League club's representative had stated that, while he had no authority to commit his club, he thought the proposed charge of £1 a match for the ground was unreasonable. "That was the League's attitude, and from that day to this no further communication has been received from the club," continued the Mayor. " A Lot of Humbugging " Continuing, the Mayor said there had been a lot of humbugging toward the end of last season over the question of charges, and the council had made up its mind to put things on a proper footing for this season. The council understood the League club refused to deal with it, and that was the position when the Auckland Union's offer was received. "When the park is being commercialised for sport the council, very rightly in my opinion, claims it is entitled to a share of the proceeds and revenue," he added. The council was quite anxious to assist the League code, and would endeavour, if desired, to make Princes Street reserve or Murphy's Park available. In reply to a question, Mr. Petrie said it was definitely settled that the council's arrangement with the Rugby Union would go through. After some brisk exchanges the Mayor's offer to inspect and consider the suitability of the other two parks for the use of League players was accepted by the deputation.