"PRINCIPLE OF RE-SELLING TEST MATCH SEATS IS WRONG.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19117, 9 July 1930, Page 6

"PRINCIPLE OF RE-SELLING TEST MATCH SEATS IS WRONG.”

Unions May Give Rights To Clubs Who Will Protect Footballing Section. Declaring that any scheme for the re-sale of test match tickets at enhanced prices was wrong in principle, Mr S. F. Wilson, a past president of the Canterbury Rugby Union, stated to-day his belief that if there were any suggestion of such trafficking tfie Auckland and Wellington Rugby Unions would probably apportion the tickets among clubs, who would see that the footballing section of the public was not exploited.

Mr Wilson's remarks were in reply to a recommendation made by Mr A. F. Stacey, whose scheme in regard to tickets for the second test match at Christchurch realised £2OO for the Returned Soldiers’ Association’s unemployment fund. Mr Stacey urged that the scheme should be extended to Auckland and Wellington for the third and fourth tests. “The scheme is quite wrong,” declared Mr Wilson. “While we all have sympathy with the unemployed, they have no right to exploit anything of that description. It is a very difficult matter about which to speak, but there is no doubt that the Rugby Unions will turn the scheme down. The Canterbury Union gave the takings for one Saturday to the unemplojument funds, and other unions in New Zealand do the same, though the proceeds of such

Charity Days are not necessarily devoted to the relief of unemployment. “The scheme does not exploit th 6 Rugby Union, but it is not fair to the public. It does not matter to the union whether they get £lO or 10s for the tickets— the principle is wrong economically in any case. If the union does not take over the selling of the tickets, the only other way is fcr the tickets to be sold through the football clubs, who will see that the footballing public are protected. The latter are entitled to a certain number of seats.” Mr Wilson said that for the fourth test at Wellington there would be only 400 stand tickets available, and the bulk of these would be kept for Wellington people. A certain number would be sold through the Canterbury Union, and it was presumed that members of the executive would receive preference. The Canterbury Union was entitled to two complimentary tickets for the test.