LEAGUE WANTS MORE GROUNDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 8

LEAGUE WANTS MORE GROUNDS.

“ NONE AVAILABLE IN NORTH HAGLEY PARK.’’

Lack of sufficient playing areas ii; the city for League football this season is exercising the minds of members of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby League, which so far has been unsuccessful in its application to the Domains Board for use of grounds in North or South Hagley Park. The Management Committee, after having been told by the Gardens and Parks Committee of the board that there are no grounds available, now seeks to send a deputation to the full board. The League has about fifty teams which will be playing each Saturday this season, and the only grounds available are six allotted by the City Council and one ground at Monica Park The negotiations with the Domains Board for more grounds commenced on March 20, when the League wrote applying for the use of three football areas. The letter stated that within the last two 3'ears the League had had an increase of twelve teams in the com petition, and expected a further increase this coming season. In the past it had been found necessary to play as many as three' matches on one ground in an afternoon, necessitatihg a commencement at 1 p.m. and the play ing of short spells. Many of the play, ers did not finish work until 12.30 p.nu and were unduly penalised by having to commence play at 1 p.m. It would be realised by the board that the six grounds allotted by the City Council, and the one ground at Monica Park, were hopelessly inadequate, and it was hoped that the board would assist the youth of the city in their beneficial Saturday’s recreation by favourably considering the application. The secretary of the Domains Board replied that it was regretted that no grounds were available in either of the North or South Hagley Parks, owing to cultivation of certain areas. The League thereupon sent a deputation to a meeting of the Gardens and Parks Committee of the board, which resolved to reply in terms of the board s first letter. The letter added that in reference to the grounds lying west of the United Club’s grounds the board could not consider the League having use of them because the board had already declined an application from the Rugby Union for their use. The League, which will consider the question of playing areas at its meeting next Mondav night, has as yet received no reply to its request that a deputation from the League wait upon the full board. “Last year our application for two grounds was declined because no grounds were available, stated the secretary of the League (Mr S. M. Richardson) to-day. “That portion of North Hagley Park lying west of the United Club’s grounds was the portion it was intended to cultivate. The deputation urged that the cultivation of that portion should be held over until next year, at which time the new grounds in South Hagley Park would be available. The other body which made application for use of the grounds has twenty playing areas in North Hag ley Park, whereas we have none in either park. Some action in regard to the matter will have to be taken by the League.”