VICTORY PARK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16330, 20 January 1921, Page 4

VICTORY PARK.

THE BOARD MEETING,

The first meeting of the Victory Park Board of ControU—the Lancaster Park Board of Control uudAr a new name—was held yesterday ; present— Mr C. Clark (chairman), the Aiayor (Dr Thacker, ALP.) and Messrs F. D Kesteven, S. F, Wilson, A. Dey, A\ . Simpson and S. Orchard.

Mr Clark was appointed chairman, and Air Wilson deputy chairman. A pro forma balance-sheet as at October 2*3 last showed'(the assets to be valued at £II,SOS 10s, made up as follows : Land, £4SoO ; buildings. £:»330 9s; deposit £1520 Is (of which amount £IO2O Is is ear-marked to provide memorial gates) . plant £93 ; change, £lO. The liabilities amounted to £2B 16s lOd, the balance of assets over liabilities amounting, therefore, to £11.779 13s 2d. STATE OF THE GROUND. Tfeo state of the sports ground was discussed and it was decided to obtain expert advice on the matter. " AYe have been told that the park is in first-class order, and then that it is not,” said Air Wilson. “I think no ought to get an expert down there to tell us what to do.” “ They tell me that the wrong sort of grass has been put in ” said Air Kefcteven. ‘‘They tell me that the wrong sort, of soil has been put in,” said Air Wilson. “ Something lias to be done.’’ said Air Simpson. “The ground is going to take a. deal of getting into order tor cricket. The association have lost, a, good deal of money this year.. Aly i personal opinion is that it wants closing dow n right through next winter. I agree with Mr Wilson that we should get expert advice.” I certainly think no,” said the chairman

Air Wilson remarked that he had been told that football would do the ground good—that it could not in any case- do it harm.

Thu chairman said that if the. grass was properly rooted football did no harm. But last year the grass was not properly rooted. Air Wilson: I have, previously expressed that idea. The. board made a mistake last year, and should exercise special care this year. Dr Thacker was of opinion that the ground was sour and wanted lime and water. On Dr Thacker's motion it was decided to -ask Air J. French, who it wa? said, had an intimate knowledge ot the ground, to draw tip a report on it. CLASHING OF DATE. The clashing of the. date on which the use of Victory Park was desired by the New Zealand Cricket Association and t&e St Patrick’s Sports Association, and a protest by the Canterbury Association regarding arrangenients made by the Board of Control, were [considered.

Air Wilson stated that a good deal of trouble had been caused to the Canterbury Cricket Association through Victory Park being engaged on March 19, it haring been desired, in view of the visit, of an Australian team, that a test match should he played there on that date. Hr suggested tlrat in future, when visiting teams were coming, the board should exercise, special care in allotting dates for the. use. «of the pprlc. In nil probability- ihc .Australian match at Victory Park would be out out, and the Cricket Association and the board would suffer a considerable loss of revenue.

The following resolution. 7>assed hv the Canter bur v Cricket Association, was then read “ That the association view with dismay the precedent that has been’inaugurated in depriving the association from exercising its prior right of using Lancaster Park to- the benefit of an outside club, and Hat we enter our emphatic r>rotest against the arrangements made.” The honorary secretary oF the St Pa trie Vs Sports Association wrote asking the board for an assurance that the park would he available on "Alarch 19. It was understood that an Australian cricket team would be in Christchurch shortly, and it was imperative that St Patrick’s Association should know how they stood in the matter. Competitors and supporters were beginning to feel anxiouMft was pointed out that the use of the park on A larch 19 had been only provisionally granted to the Sit Palrick’s Sports Association, and the Canterbury Cricket Association had been notified to that effect. The association should have notified this to the NonZealand Cricket Association. The New Zealand Cricket Association had received a programme from the St Patrick's Sports Association. and had taken it for granted that they had defiriitelv secured the use of the park for A larch 19. Air AY. Simpson said that the Canterbury Cricket Association’s letter was not sent solely because of the fact that the Australian tenm could not nlay. The association objected to outside bodies being granted the use of the ground when it interfered with their competitions.

The tone of the Cnnterburv Cricket Association’s motion was the subject of unfavourable comment. Tt was decided to write to ’ho association stating that the hoard had- noted within its rights in doing what it her] done. Tt. was also decided to dofinitelv grant, the use of the nark to the St Patrick’s Sports Association on March 19. provided that the itinerarv of the Australian team had been fixed and Lancaster Paj-k had boon cut out of it. ‘•lt’s a pity these people don't read their newspapers—it was a l| fully set out in the report of the meeting at which we dealt with the matter.” said Ahr Kesteven. regard in- the misunderstanding with inference to the use of the. park on March 19