FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 90, 16 April 1929, Page 5

FOOTBALL

WANGANUI FINANCE COUNCIL TREASURER’S REPORT. The following report by the honorary treasurer of the Wanganui Rugby Union Council (Mr G. H. Pownall), which, was adopted at the annual general meeting of the union has an interest for supporters of the code in this district. “The season 1928 must be consid-. cred as a satisfactory one from the hon. treasurer’s point of view. “In addition to the xisit from N.S.W., conducted so far as our match was concerned on behalf of the • N.Z.R.E.U., we had four matches at i home for all of which we were favoured with fine weather. The gwt.es as a result -were satisfactory, enabling us j to meet the expenses of a tour to | North Auckland as well as pay some £5O odd of 1927 debts which had been overlooked, and finish the year with an increase of £124 9s 9d in our Accumulated Fund. “It is very satisfactory to note that all our Unions paid up their fees, leaving nothing outstanding on either side of our ledger. “As I took over the books of the Union as from April 1 of last year I have completed this year’s balancesheet to the same date of this year, opening up a complete set of books. ”i

FOR RUGBY PATRONS

ATHLETIC PARK STAND. FINE STRUCTURE NEARLY READY WELLINGTON’S ACQUISITION. Although there is little prospect of the new grandstand at Athletic Park, Wellington, being completed in time for the official opening of the Rugby football season on April 27, the. structure will be in sufficient shape to give the public a good idea of the extent to which the main Rugby football rendezvous has beerf improved by this big undertaking, says the Evening Post. Even now the work is advanced enough to indicate that the stand when compelled will compare ‘ cry favourably with the best of its kind on Rugby football grounds of other countries. Whereas the old stand had only six tiers of seats, the new stand will have seventeen tiers, on which there will be seats for 4600 people. Being on a much higher level than the former building, the new stand will give those who occupy it a magnificent view of the full playing area, and, being covered and providing for the convenience of patrons in various other ways, it should have an appeal far greater than that of the western bank, which has been recognised in the past as the best vantage on the ground. The length of the new stand is approximately 420 ft., which is longer than the playing area. The full extent to which the needs of players, officials and public are being met can only be realised by an inspection of all that the building holds beneath the extensive seating accommodation. Provision has been made for numerous entrances from the streets, where there will be directions to guide those people going into the stand. Some entrances will be set apart for ticket-holders and others with turnstiles for those without tickets, these being on both sides of the central entrance, which will be for the official party. It is proposed to have the vestibule from the central entrance suitably furnished, and to have displayed there photographs of old Rugby teams, etc. On either side of the vestibul there will be a committee ami other rooms, as veil i the secretary’s office. Directly opposite the vestibule there will be the entrance to the, ground, and it will be through this that the players, referee, and line umpires pass on their way to and from the playing area.. The official section of the stand is situated right above the j reception hall in the centre of Ihe building, with the accommodation for the Press immediately behind the “official box.” Players’ Accommodation. One of the entrances from the main . street is set apart for the players, ami | this is conveniently suited for the ' entry to the dressing-rooms, of which ; there is good supply. Attached to each • of the dressing-rooms is a bathroom, ; each being fitted with a number of . showers. Hot as well as cold water * will be always on supply, a big hot . water system being installed. The j referee is also provided for in the mat- : ter of dressing and bath room. The • doctor’s and ambulance rooms are situ-! ated handy to the main entrance. On I the northern section of the ground floor ! there are to be tea. rooms. With regard to patrons finding their scats, the secretary of the Wellington » Rugby Union (Mr A. E. Neilson) indicated to a Post reporter during an inspection of the building that the pro- J eedure would be simple. From the i street, entrance patrons will go up one j of the numerous flights of stairs to a wide corridor, which extends the whole length of the stand. Along this corridor the various blocks of seats will , be indicated, and to each block of seats on the stand there will be a separate ' entrance, through which the ticketholder will reach the centre of the block in which the seat is reserved. The corridor ,or travelling passage, is one of the many good features of the new stand, as it should .eliminate congestion and prevent any confusion in finding the location of seats which may have been booked. It is proposed to open the plan of seating accommodation to last season’s ticket-holders on April 22, and to the general public two days later.