FOOTBALL CLUB VIEW

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 23, 22 August 1928, Page 5

FOOTBALL CLUB VIEW

ON PARK GRANDSTAND.

DISCUSSION BY COMMITTEE. The viewpoint of the Stratford Football Club as regards the proposed grandstand on Victoria Park was expressed in a discussion on the matter at last night's meeting of the Club's committee.

Mr E. H. Young asked if the Club 'had( received any notice from the Domain Board in reference to the grandstand on Victoria Park.

The chjairman said the Board had not communicated with the Club on the matter. He did not know that they were, under any necessity to do so.

Mr Young was of opinion that the Club, as one of the chief producers of revenue at the Park, should he considered. There was a possibility that the Board might fix a far too high charge for the stand..

: : A VALUABLE ASSET. Mr Malone thought commonsense would prevail. The Council had always treated the Club fairly, hut he thought the Club, as a very important sporting hody, should have been consulted l by the Board. A stand on the ground would be a very, valuable asset- He understood that the Board would like to h/ave a Bjlittle more .'money to complete the i firiit" section, and this sum should he easy •enough to raise.

'** The Chairman s aid ! that the Mayor had invited everybody interested to meet the Council and discuss the grandstand, but none of the member® of the Club were present. Mr Malone said he understood the Club would be) represented hy Mr Harkness at that meeting. Otherwise he himself would have made a point of being present.

RUGBY UNION VIEW. I Mr R. Masters said the Borough Council was to he commended! for proposing to erect a grandstand, but members \of other bjodies had their! owin point H>f view- As) a. member of the Rugby Union the speaker had to look at the matter not only as it affected Stratford, but as it affected other towns in Taranaki. The arrangements in other towns were very favourable. If the Union was forced into the position, and they thought that was being done, of having to pay an exorbitant rent, it would have to consider how 1 ;far it could go. The Council should not seek to make money out of the stand. If the Council got enough to pay interest and! sinking fund they should! let sporting bodies have the revenue in excess of that.

TO MEET DEPRECIATION. The Chairman; (Mr R. F. Harkness) \ Something would be required for depreciation'. Mr Masters said that 'the Council could' meet depreciation out of return® from other sports, in which, case the Council would get all the revenue from the stand. The Chairman said Mr Masters' proposal seemed to' he a reasonable one. Mr E. H. Young asked what would happen to the present seating. Mr 11. Masters said it would) still he used and there would he seating on hoth sides of tb{e ground. He felt sure that when the istand was erected the effect would he to secure better! matches for* sbnttfo)< and this would increase the revenue to the Borough Council.

Mr B. J- Malono said that lastyear the Council spent much more on the.football ground than was received in revenue. In reply to Mr D. Young, the chairman said he approved ,ol fie Ptand being put on the western bank. If the stand was on the northern side iti would be open to the southerly wind. PLAYING EAST TO WEST.

Mr E- H. Young said the stand would be useless if a match was played from east to west. The chairman replied that such matches would be very rare. The club matches needed most consideration, and they would be fully served by the stand. Mr E H. Young doubted if the attendance would be larger on wet days merely because of the provision 0 f a covered standi If the day was wet he believed the attendance would be the same, irrespective of the stand- , , , ~ Mr B Masters said that when the matches were played on the A. -jd P around! « fc and was alwayS « ' i t, m ,. the weather was. Ho whatever >"*■ " vt . . thought that the new ntand would be filled on the driest day. Mr E H- Young said the moveabia stands had been used m the past season, but this had not increased the gate takings. Mr B, Masters .stated that trie tower takings were accounted for by £ standard of football da»g the season. , The resolution was passed.

STRATFORD CLUB COMMITTEE!. - i The committee of the Stratford Football Club met last night, when there were present : Messrs R. F. Harkness (in the A. R. Masters, F. Bowler, D J. Malone, R. Wood, C. Lamplough, E. H Young, W. J. Aitken, D. Young, H. M. Good and R. Masters. A PLEASANT DINNER I%e secretary was instructed to write a letter of thanks t» Mr J.) F- , Ryan, of the Commercial Hotel, for I the dinner he gave for the Club's team. Mr E. H. Young reported that he had attended the dinner, which passed off most successfully. MATCH WITH UNIVERSITY. In notifying that his team would be unable to visit Stratford, the Secretary of the University team, winners of the Wellington competition, expressed the hope that the visit might take place at some future time when his team would be free from the strenuous work of the football season. Mr Malone said the matter might be kept in view for next season. Perhaps a match could be arranged "for next Easter, when the teams would! still be the champions of their respective competitions. SUBSCRIPTIONS. The chairman expressed the opinion thajb the subscription for the thirct grade (10s 6d) was too high. The. matter had been mentioned at ; last annual meeting, but nothing could be done, as notice of motion was required. Mr R. Masters gave notice to move at next annual meeting that the sub. scription for the third grade be 5s and for the fourth grade 2s 6d. PROTEST COMMITTEE. Mr R: Wood asked if the Celtic Club protest had come before the committee. The chairman said it had not. It had been referred to him by the secretary, and he had decided to send it along to the Union. Mr Wood suggested that a subcommittee should be Iset up to deal with protests before they went to the Union. This would have a tendency to stop frivolous protests from going forwardSMOKE CONCERT. It was decided to hold a smoke concert on September 10. BALL BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet of the annual ball showed a credit of £3l. The chairman said a pleasing feature of the function was the splendid attendance of players. A motion of thanks was passed to the ladies' committee. Mr E- H Young said the ball was a great success, and reflected credit on everybody concerned i Mr Malone said the help given by ! the younger players was a very pleasing feature.