PROVINCIAL SCHEME

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1935, Page 2

PROVINCIAL SCHEME

SUPPORT OF TUKAPA RUGBY CLUB

REMIT SENT- TO TARANAKI UNION.

The provincial- scheme of play has a strong advocate in the Tukapa Football Club, which decided at the annual meeting oh Tuesday night to forward a remit to the Tarfehaki Rugby Union urging that the scheme be continued during the coming season. Mr. K. C. Jury, who moved the remit, said that the Scheme would be one of the most Vital matters to be discussed at the annual meeting of the union. He thought it would be conceded that the introduction of the scheme had been responsible for an improvement in the standard of play in senior. football and for greater public interest in the. game. That was shown by the fact that the takings had increased by £3OO compared with the previous season, despite thirteen wet Saturdays. Had the weather been reasonably fine he considered the all-provincial club gates would have shown an increase of £5OO over the receipts during the operation of the old North and South scheme. It was a great tribute to the provincial scheme that instead Of slumping, as might have been expected in view of the weather, the gate takings had shown an increase. It' was recognised, of course, that the extra travelling entailed extra expense, but Mr. Jury thought that after last year's experience the clubs would be quite satisfied to Carry on With the scheme. He held that increased gate takings would offset the increased travelling expenses. The size of the gate takings Was a matter for the clubs themselves. If the players trained and played the best football they would attract the public, Whereas if the internal working of the clubs were not good the gate takings would slump. It was therefore up to all Uhe clubs and to their own club in particular to train and take note of the advice of the coaches* as Tukapa had done last year. If the team made a good showing the gate receipts would keep up. Mr. Jury made it clear, however, that while the gate money helped the finances considerably, the club did not altogether rely on that source of income, but for years had helped itself by raising money in other directions, thus retaining a credit balance. After all the Rugby Union Could only distribute in gate motley what Was earned by the clubs, so that it was the duty of the clubs to see to il that they played a good game, and obtained enjoyment fpi l it, at the same time helping themselves In other directions.

Mr. Jury did itot think that at present there wopld be any alteration in the scheme of play which, he Said, the Tukapa club had initiated. It Was originally intended that the scheme should operate for two years, so that each club should have played home and home matches throughout the province. Last year Tukapa had had the best of the draw as far as travelling was concerned, but that meant there would be some heavy travelling for the club this season. However, the club intended to fulfil all its engagements and would also endeavour to show the other end of the province bright football, thus ensuring large gate receipts. As the prime mover in the scheme, which had been so successful last year, he asked the club to stand solidly behind the scheme this year. Replying to Mr. H. Nodder, Mr. Jury said that this year the teams would have to return Visits made last year. The remit was seconded by Mr. K. Stohr and carried unanimously.