SEATS FOR TEST MATCHES

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1930, Page 13

SEATS FOR TEST MATCHES

THE POSITION AT AV ELLINGTON.

At the meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union last night the chairman (Air. J. McLeod) stated that there had been a good deal of controversy regarding the allocation of seats in connection with the. fourth Test match at Wellington. The New Zealand Union was receiving a good deal of criticism that it was not entitled to as the matter was being handled by the Wellington Rugby Union, just as the Taranaki Rugby Union controlled the game at New Plymouth. From his observations when in Wellington, he was of opinion that the Wellington Union was doing a very fair thing' in a very difficult position. There was an opinion gaining ground that it was useless for people from Taranaki to go to Wellington, as there would be no possibility of securing a seat. That was absurd, as in any case the controversy only centred round the 4000 stand seats, which were either £1 or 10s. lid., but as a matter of fact, provision was being made to seat 43,000. Of these seats at least 10,000 on the hillside, giving an excellent view, would be available at 2s. Cd., and about another 10,000 scats would be provided at ss. on the ground. There would therefore be plenty of accommodation in good positions available to all who went to the ground, say, before noon, whilst those who went later would also be accommodated, but not in sueh a good position. Air. AlcLeod thought 43,000 seats would accommodate the crowd, as that would easily constitute a record for New Zealand. Regarding the 4000 stand seats, ho pointed out that the Wellington Union was endeavouring to allocate a reasonable proportion to country applicants, but all could not be fulfilled. In addition to the seats applied for by the Taranaki Union and other unions, private application by country residents numbered possibly a couple of thousand, aid it was not possible for the Wellington Union to accede to all applications as, for instance, there were only GOO seats available for 900 applicants already. He felt sure Taranaki would receive a fair quota. The Wellington Union was adopting the principle of giving preference to applicants from districts away from those centres which had already had Test matches.