EASTERN DISTRICT FOOTBALL.

Southland Times, Issue 20280, 12 September 1927, Page 3

EASTERN DISTRICT FOOTBALL.

To the Editor. Sir, —In a report of the last meeting of the Eastern District Sub-Union the chairman, Mr George Whittingham, is reported to have stated “that all rep. matches should be played at Gore, as past experience had proved that the gate receipts showed a substantial increase when the matches were played at Gore. Sir, if this were the opinion of only Mr Whittingham the position would not be very serious, but, unfortunately it appears to be the settled policy of the present members of the sub-union, most of whom it maybe said have held office for a long time and who by the present method of election are unshiftable. In the first place I would ask Mr Whittingham to produce some figures. Only two rep. matches have been played on an Eastern District ground other than Gore in the past four seasons. Both of these were played at Mataura. In 1924, Town v. Eastern was played at Mataura under abominable weather conditions. This season West Otago v. Eastern, a fixture of minor interest, was played at Mataura, the weather again being on its worst behaviour. Well Mr Whittingham give us the figures for these matches and compare them with Gore gates for matches of similar interest played under similar conditions? Further will Mr Whittingham defend the action of his committee in asking the Southern Sub-Union team to travel 20 miles into Eastern territory to play its recent cup match when a centre like Wyndham was available for the match. If Mr Whittingham can produce his “substantial increases” he will have at least vindicated the position he took up, i.e., that the gate receipts are the only factor which must be considered in the development of Rugby football. I would suggest to Mr Whittingham and his colleagues that there are other matters which might be taken into consideration in allocating important fixtures. Rugby is an amateur game and in an area like Eastern District is kept going largely by a great number of active and honorary club members—Wyndham, Mataura, Edendale and Pukerau each does its bit in conjunction with the more or less pretentious effort in Gore. In addition to club membership the sub-union levies charges for the senior club fixtures—a charge by the way invariably collected by paid gatemen from Gore. When the rep. season opens all the fixtures are played at Gore which is at the extreme end of the territory playing senior football. This policy levies a distinct tax on the enthusiasts of the other centres, who must travel from eight to 20 miles to see the distrjpt reps, in action. Is it any wonder that clubs are finding it increasingly hard to secure members? The ordinary fan in the districts mentioned pays his club membership and sees a game every second week for a couple of months. If he wishes to see a rep. fixture he must travel to Gore. Already, Sir, one of the branches of the Eastern District Sub-Union has withered off—Seward Downs used to play senior footbtll. Potentially Eastern District is one of the finest country areas in New Zealand for the sound development of Rugby football. Unfortunately the vision of the officials is so restricted (if Mr Whittingham is a credited mouthpiece) that the future looks rather difficult. What Eastern District football needs is a change of policy or a change of management. I would suggester, Sir, that the following matters should be immediately considered :

(1) The policy of playing all rep. matches at Gore.

(2) A scrutiny of the free list. (3) The basis of allocating money to hockey clubs who use public recreation grounds on days held by the sub-unions. (4) The' cost of maintaining playing areas in Pukerau, Mataura, Gore, Wyndham, and Edendale. (5) The privilege of members of the sub-union in viewing games—are they entitled to stand in front of the ordinary barrier? (6) The policy of transporting gatemen from Gore to officiate at other centres. (7) The appointing of two managers to take a team on a week-end excursion to Oam ar u. There are other matters the pubic would like information on but this will do for a first instalment. —I am, etc., INTERESTED.