UNION EMBARRASSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18540, 10 April 1930, Page 10

UNION EMBARRASSED

SOUTHLAND RUGBY UNFIN ANCIAL. DIVIDED HALF-HOLIDAY BLAMED. By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL, April 9. According to a statement made today by the treasurer of the Southland Rugby Union (Mr A. H. Courtis) the finances of the Union are in anything but a satisfactory state. Mr Courtis said that the Union had borrowed from the Amateur Sports Trust, which controls the proceeds of the successful art union organised in 1925, a sum of £9500, bearing interest at 2 h per cent. This money was to be repaid to the Sports Trust at the rate of £SOO every second year—the years in which representative matches were played at home. At the time these arrangements were entered into, Invercargill enjoyed a universal half-holiday and there did not appear to be any reason why the Rugbv Union should not be able to meet its obligations. With a divided half-holiday, however, came financial trouble to the Union, and the overdraft had crept steadily up, until to-day it had increased to four figures. In addition, the Union had not been able to meet its obligations with the Sports Trust, and at 31st January, the end of the Union’s financial year, the amount of £3OO was owing in interest, and a repayment of £SOO was due. The Rugby Union executive was out to rectify the position by curtailing expenditure commensurate with the efficient running of the Union and it looked to the paying-public and footballers generally to throw in their weight also.