NEW STAND

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12404, 25 March 1926, Page 8

NEW STAND

FOR ATHLETIC PARK Present indications are that there will be a new stand at Athletic Park for the season of 1927. The annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union last night gave the management committee power to proceed. In moving that this power he granted Mr J. Prendeville said that each year the demand for a new stand was becoming more imperative. They already had £ISOO in hand for building purposes, and had approached a firm of architects and had a rough plan prepared. This stand, with two wings, would seat 6150 people, and without the wings 4600. The rough estimate of the cost was £30,000, but he thought that this could be reduced considerably. The time was ripe for a new stand and he hoped that the meeting would give the committee the necessary powers. It was hoped to be able to allow the contractor to proceed on October Ist, and thus have the stand ready for the season of 1927. The question of finance would ho an enormous one. but he was confident that this could be met. The New Zealand Union had already promised tangible support. In all it was a sound proposal and vital to tho success of the game in Wellington. Mr S. S. Dean seconded the motion. He said that during the All Blacks tour in England they were surprised at the excellent stands erected on ground in towns smalled than Wellington. Dr. P. F. Mcßvedy strongly supported the proposal, and suggested that the committee should see that the foundations of the stand would he capable of holding another story. In twenty-five years the population of Wellington would he almost doubled and attendance up to 50,000 could be expected. After further discussion the motion was carried unanimously.