FOOTBALL AND BUSINESS

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 23 July 1937, Page 3

FOOTBALL AND BUSINESS

LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN RUGBY

LEADS TO LOSS OF TRADE.

Lack qf public interest in football was responsible for loss of trade to the town, according to Mr F. Eagle, speaking at the meeting' of the Chamber of Commerce last evening. He pointed out that when teams from Omakere, Tikokino, or Onga Onga went touring they were always accompanied by large numbers of supporters, but in Waipawa, when their own team was playing on Coronation Park there was only a meagre sprinkling of the old diehards. At the annual meeting of the club there was only one business man present. There could he no question, Mr Eagle stated, that the playing of football matches on Coronation Park brought country people into town, and owing to the fact that, very few matches (and those all junior) had been played there this season country people who followed Rugby had been conspicuous by their absence. He urged that the Chamber, as representative of business interests, should take an active interest in encouraging the club and the game. Arrangements had, he said, been made to play-the Palmerston North High School v. To Ante match at Waipawa on Saturday, August 21st, and he hoped the people of the town,find district would lend their full support. Mr A. E. Jull agreed that for some years the people of Waipawa had failed to show reasonable interest in the promotion ,of football, and Mr Eagle was quite justified in bringing it to the notice of the Chamber. Mr Witherow said the public’s lack of interest was largely due to the fact that the local club had not been able to raise a senior team this season. Mr E. Kingston stressed the lack of interest shown in meetings of the club and at, matches played. It had been a hard job to keep the junior team going l owing to transport difficulties. On the motion of Messrs Eagle and Jull it was resolved that the Chamber endeavor to promote interest in football in the town and district. Mr Eagle mentioned that billeting would he required for the Palmerston team on the occasion of their visit. They would arrive on Friday morning and leave on Saturday evening. He asked anyone prepared to assist to get into touch with him or Mr F. W. Holt.