RUGBY AND RACES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 111, 12 May 1936, Page 6

RUGBY AND RACES

KING’S BIRTHDAY PLANS A "DEADLOCK” REACHED FINANCE THE PROBLEM At the moment it would appear that the prospect of Wanganui promoting Rugby ami races on the King’s Birthday is anything but bright. A statement was supplied to the 4 ‘ Chronicle ” yesterday by the honorary secretary to ihe Wanganui Rugby Union (Mr C. T. Young). “The Jockey Club find that it is unable to meet the Rugby Union in the financial arrangements necessary to stage such a fixture." he aid “This has resulted in a deadlock, ami the union will now have to negotiate in an»ther dirftion. “Circumstances beyond uur control robbed u.s of the Taranaki fixture, but,, in an endeavour to make the holiday a big day for the city and d’strict, the Wanganui Rugby Union negotiated with Alanawatu. Bv undertaking to pay Alanawatu's expenses, am', to play a return match in Palmerston v.e succeeded in getting a fixture for King’s Birthday morning. 44 The co.%t of putting on this game would be something like £7O. and the return match would cost us about £3O, a, total outlay of £lOO. It i> impossible to estimate the amount of the ‘gate* for a morning match, and the union’s financial position docs not justify us put- . ting on the match without being reai -onablv secured. “When I tell you that th? Taranaki ' mat'ch on King’s Birthday was the • mainstay of our finances, and that for I several rears no other 4 gate’ has • reached £lOO. you will reabse out diffii culty. However, you may be sure that the union will spare no effort to make ‘ the fixture possible.” Jockey Club's Attitude Interviewed last night in respect to the matter, Mr G. Russell, president ’ of the AVanganui Jockey Club, said that ’ his chib had gone into the whole position, but its rules did not permit it enJ tering into a financial guarantee as , asked by the Rugby Unitn. “The Jockey Club is very sorry irdeed that 1 it is not in a position to meet the j Rugby Union's wishes,’’ Air Russell added. 4< l have intimated to the.presif dent of the Rugby Union that any visi--5 tors, in the shape of teams and accom--1 panving officials, would be the guests , of the Jockey Chib after the- match. In ’ fa»ct, so far as the Jockey Club is conJ cerned, it is prepared to assist -u any ’ way possible, but it cannot enter into ’ a g-uarantce. Apart from the rules, ’ which forbid a guarantee, the Jockey Club ha-s increased its stakes over 50 per cent, and is under a heavy financial obligation so far as the meeting is 1 concerned.” A special ticket-selling campaign in connection with the proposed maVch : was mentioned to Mr Russell, which involved the Jockey Club allowing concession tickets. “I. cannot express the • view of my committee/ 7 he said, “but, personally, the scheme sounds feasible to me. 1 will put it before niy committee as ffoon as possible.”