CULLING PARK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 9

CULLING PARK.

WANTED FOR LEAGUE FOOTBALL MATCHES. APPLICATION BEFORE O.E.A. FINALITY NOT REACHED. At the meeting of the executive of tho Otago Football .Association last night a letter from the town clerk of St. Kikla was read with reference to tho visit of tho English Rugby League team. Mr Griffen staved that an application had been received from Mr H. Divers on behalf of the local Board of Control set up to facilitate matters in connection with the approaching visit of the English Rugby Football League team, asking for the use of Culling Park on August t) and August lb. The writer asked if tho executive offered any objection to the use of the ground being granted for the League teams’ visit. Mr Doucnrass moved that a letter be sent to tho St. Kilda Council, informing it that before the use of the ground could he granted tho Board of Control would have to make application to the Otago Football Association.

In seconding the motion, Mr Cocking said the association had a lenso of the ground' until (he end of September, and he thought that application should be made to (he executive.

The Chairman explained that the other sporting body concerned thought that the lease had expired. At this stage a motion to go into committee was lost by a largo majority. Mr Deuchrass said that, if the fit. Kilda Council got control of the ground it might get 25 per cent, of the gate from the League authorities, and tho association would get nothing. Mr Anderson said the League authorities looked on the St. Kilda Council as tho owners of the ground. He thought that if the association went about this thing in tho right way tho Soccer game would gel a good impetus. He thought a delegation from the executive should meet representatives from the St. Kilda Council atid tile Rugby League and find cut what the position wa.s. If thev could get a loaso of Culling Park for a given number of years at a stated rental, and also get the League authorities to guarantee t .at in the event of the use of the ground being granted anything put on the ground would be of a permanent nature, it would be a good thing for the O.F.A. Mr MTnnes said they first had to find out if the St. Kilda Council had power to lease the ground to the highest btuder next year. Tho Chairman said he had a lot of information, but ho woujd not give it out. Mr Anderson said it seemed to him that they were afraid of offending fho Rugby Union.

The Chairman said the SI. Kilda Conned would get a legal opinion that night as to their right to lease the ground. Mr M‘Crorie expressed the opinion that if they considered the interest of Association football they should turn the proposal down altogether. He moved : —“That the executive refuse to grant the use ground for League football purposes.” The amendment was seconded by Mr Haynes. The Chairman supported the view expressed by Hr M'Croric. He stated that all the evidence he had was in the direction of showing that that was the right course to adopt. Mr Anderson asked if they thought it better to refuse the use of the ground or enter into negotiations. Everyone could see that the League was making progress. The Rugby Union had treated them as a sister code', *nd.if they carried the amendment they would not be treating the League game as a sister code, which was a very poor policy. The Chairman said tie association was acting in self-defence. Mr Anderson; Well, I think it is a very poor spirit. .. .. The Chairman: We have invited the Chinese team to come hero, and we are dependent on • certain grounds for that fixture. Mr MTnnes said ho thought the crux of the matter was whether the St. Kilda Council had power to lease to any body but the association next year. ?dr M'Crorio said he thought they were overlooking the fact that, they were there to look after the interest of amateur football. Although the League was net professional at present it whs only a matter of time when it would become professional. Mr Anderson gave notice of a further amendment to .the effect that if the St. Kilda Council was willing to give a lease of Culling Park io the O.F.A. for at least five years the use of the ground would bo granted for the League games. Mr ITarraway said that if the League . authorities got the use of Culling Park (hero would bo the position of the Chinese tour to consider, though there would peihaps bo no trouble in Dunedin. The speaker went on to a«<eri that the Sydney University team’s fixtures in Dunedin were not arranged by chance.' They were, he said, arranged by the Now Zealand Rugby Union. ... Air MTnnes said the League authorities had helped the Soccer code through New Zealand. Ho thought tho association was between the devil and tho deep sea. The amendment was then put to the mooting, and was carried, by nine votes (including two proxies) to eight. Mr Anderson asked how the proxies came. The Chairman explained that Dr MTvillop was discussing tho matter on Saturday, and had stated that ho would probably not be presant at that mooting. The speaker had then suggested that he send .a proxy in. Mr Anderson said ho took exception to proxies coming in in that way. If Dr M’Killop had a right to he asked to send in a proxy other members of tho executive, had the same right. . . The Chairman said Dr M’Killop gave his opinion without- being asked for it. At this stage the chairman wa.s asked to give a ruling with reference to a letter which had been given to (ho secretary by Mr Stanley, who stated that ho was unable lo attend the meeting and who asked Rio secretary lo record his vote. . The Chairman ruled that tho proxy Wgs out of order. Mr Cocking said it was open to anyone (o move that the chairman’s ruling be disagreed with. Ho thought the ruling was most unfair. . . , After discussion the chairman decided to accept Mr Stanley’s proxy. Tho amendment was again put, and Ino voting was equal—nine each way The chairman gave his casting vote in favour of tho amendment. Mr Anderson then moved that tne ht. Kilda Council bo informed that if it was agreeable to grant the association a lease of Culling Park- for at least live years the executive was prepared to grant- the use of Culling Park to the League authorities. The Chairman: Wc have decided not to grant the use of the ground at all. Mr Anderson said he would give notice of motion to the effect that the previous resolution bo rescinded. On being asked for a reason for his action Mr Anderson said he did not think the vote that had been taken was a I rue vole ai, all. He thought there had boon, some canvassing for votes. , , The Chairman said he had never asked for proxies, and he thought Mr Anderson s charge v/as an unfair one. Mr Anderson then said he wornd move Ibat the St. Kilda Council ho informed that if it was agreeable to sign an agreement with the O.F.A. for a lease of Dulling Park for at least 10 years, the executive would be agreeable to reopen the matter. The mover said that if this was adopted they would know what tho intention of tho gi, Kilda Council was. Tho motion was seconded by Mr M Lean. Mr M’Croric: I think we shall make ourselves ridiculous if wc put a motion like that through. The motion was earned by XI votes to til von. A Her the secretary had been in telephonic communication with (he Mayor of St. Kilda flic executive decided that if the St. Kilda Donned would grant to the O.F.A. a lease of Culling Park for at least 10 years at the present rental, the council to have the rig’il to use the ground for not. more than two flays per year, the executive would be prepared to reconsider the matter. ST. KILDA COUNCIL’S ATTITUDE. LE AGUE'S REQU EST FAVOURED. BUT COUNCIL HAS XO AUTHORITY. The subject also came up for discussion at the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council lest night, when a letter was received from Mr 11. Divers, who, on behalf of the Board of Control, applied to the council for the. use of Culling Park on Saturday. August 9, and Wednesday. August 13 in view of the approaching visit of (ho English .Rugby Football League to New Zealand and in order lo ensure tho visit of the imm to Dunedin. In tho event of tho council granting the application ho pointed out that tho board would consider it escort- I

tial to erect seating accommodation, and would undertake to leave the grounds in good order. Or Edgar, in moving that the request be acceded to subject to the permission of the 0.F.A., said that it was the least they could do for the visiting English team. It would be very bad taste for any local body or any sporting body not to accede to the request of a visiting team for a ground. The Mayor mentioned that ho had just communicated with ths association, aim it had promised to advise him of its decision at 10.30 the following morning. Until then ha did not think the council should consider the renewal of the lease of Oullmg Park to the association, and he had advised (ho association to this effect. Ho thought, however, that Cr Edgar’s motion was the right thing as tho association certainly had the use of tho ground until the end of September. _ Or Leary pointed out that it was hardly in order to “grant the ground subject to tlie O.F.A.’s consent,” sOaing that the council had no control over tho ground whatever. Ho thought that the letter should bo passed on to tho association with a recommendation to let the Rugby League have the use of Culling Park cm the days mentioned.

Cr Edgar then altered his motion as follows: ‘‘That in (he opinion of the council the League should be given the use of the ground and the O.F.A. bo respectfully asked to accede to the request.” Tile motion was seconded by Cr Adam. The Mayor: “Wo will certainly be doing (he right thing. That is only my opinion, of course, though tho Rugby Union thinks differently. However, I think the O.F.A. will look at it in this light.” Continuing, ho said that he did not tliink they would bo over-stepping tho bounds of eourtesv it they asked the present tenants to stand down for a couple of days, and indeed he thought they would be quite in order. Cr Leary: As a matter of fact wo should not have had that letter at all, Cr Fong worth said that he was a League man and “might be a bit biassed,” but with all clue respect to the motion he thought, that it should be put straight out. The 0.F.A., he added, had only a short time to go. It had not played_ on the ground for three Saturdays add it \wvruld do no harm to cut, out one more Saturday. The Oval had been suggested, but they could not cater for the public there. Cr Dove suggested that the only thing they could do'was to '‘receive” the letter and pass it on to the O.F.A. Cr Leary: Yes. Here’s an outside body asking for the use of a ground over which we have no control, and it looks as if we are telling the association that if it docs not grant the ground we’U penalise it. Do you call that a sportmig spirit? It seems to me (a be a threat. The Mayor: What about its sporting spirit? Cr Leary wanted to know definitely whether tho decision cf tho O.F.A. would influence the council when (he lease came up for consideration. Cr Longworth : "ites 1 Emphatically ye*! The Mayor pointed out that they were merely going to consider the lease Sifter tnev bad heard tho association’s decision, and that was all it amounted to for tlie present. Cr Hall said that he believed if the motion were carried the association would grant the request. Thev would be disgracing themselves and the name of the city it they refused thp League the use of Culling Park. The motion was then put to-the vote and carried, the only dissenting voice Bailiff that of Or Leary, who still maintained that the letter should have gone to the O.F.A.