RUGBY GATE RECEIPTS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1935, Page 9

RUGBY GATE RECEIPTS

TARANAKI CLUB SHARES

LARGER PROPORTION WANTED.

MATTER DEFERRED FOR YEAR.

TRAVELLING EXPENSES BURDEN.

The proportion of the gate moneys to be refunded to clubs by the Taranaki Rugby Union provided a fruitful topic of discussion at the annual meeting of the union at Stratford last night. It was decided after discussion of club’s requests for a greater allocation to discuss the matter again prior to next season in the light of the outcome of the present season. In accordance with notice Mr. E. H. Young, on behalf of the Stratford club, moved “That the union divide the profit from club football at the end of _ the 1935 playing season among the various senior clubs.” The object was to give the clubs some assistance with their overhead expenses, said Mr. Young. The provincial scheme had caused an increase in travelling expenses, which had been featured in bal-ance-sheets. Clubs looked to the union to give relief, and considered some scheme might be devised to make the returns from the union greater. Mr. Young showed how the gross gate receipts were greatly reduced by various charges. It might be argued that the union was not in the position to divide the gates among clubs, but there was little representative travelling involved this season and there was a big programme of home representative matches.

INTENTIONS OF SCHEME.

Mr. McLeod recalled how the present method of allocating gate proceeds was devised so that clubs which did most travelling received more from the pool. The union was working on a minimum of expenses at present and those expenses must come from the gate receipts. It was hoped to make a profit of £2OO on representative football this year, but the union had £l5OO leeway to make up. He appreciated the Stratford club’s viewpoint but he hoped the delegates would not do anything to put the union in a serious position. Regarding grounds, there would be no rent outlay on the Hawera ground, and as soon as Rugby Park was finished at New Plymouth there would be no outlay on Pukekura Park. The union hoped to “catch up” on its losses over the next few years. At first sight it was idle to ask the union for assistance, said Mr. D. J. Malone. Yet they were passing through difficult .times and he was inclined to think the provincial scheme was instituted at an unfortunate time, increasing clubs’ expenses. Most balance-sheets showed heavy outlay. Had the old system been continued the clubs and perhaps the union would have been in a better position and there would still be the most attractive part of club football —the play-off.

Nevertheless the union was more or less committed to another year of the provincial scheme, and he suggested that the clubs would find this year'the same as last. The union must consider the question from that point of view. Mr. J. S. Hickey (Opunake) asked why the club with most to say on the question was one with comparatively little travelling. If there was any criticism of the scheme it should come from clubs with the most travelling. His own club and others had improved their position. The provincial scheme had. not supported itself,' said Mr. L. T. Aylward, Star. Travelling was a dead loss to most clubs, as the gates were too small to bear the expense. The club football account was a very bare account and general overhead expenses justifiably chargeable to that account were paid out of the capital account, it was stated. An improvement rested with the clubs themselves—there was no profit in club football at present. If the union had a good year this year a general meeting could divide the profit on club football as it thought fit. Mr. J. M. Stephens moved as an amendment to the remit that clubs receive . 65 per cent, of the gate money this year. Mr, Young said the chairman’s suggestion of waiting till the end of the season appealed to him.

Mr. E. R. Coutts moved an amendment on those lines. Mr. Young withdrew the Stratford remit and Mr. Stephens withdrew his amendment and Mr. Coutts’ proposal was carriea.