SPRIGGENS PARK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 26 August 1936, Page 6

SPRIGGENS PARK

EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENT RUGBY INION DISCUSSION MR. MOYE'S PLANS APPROVED Plans for the lowering ot the playing area at Spriggens Park and the building up of sloping areas on three sides of the ground in order to give an elevated view to 14,000 people were discussed at last night’s meeting of the management committee of the Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby Union. A scale plan of the proposed work, which is estimated to involve an expenditure of £9OO, was placed before the meeting by Mr. J. Moye. A subcommittee consisting of Mr. J. B. Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui, and Messrs. R. Sewell, J. Moye and A. Lockett was set up to discuss the proposal with members of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union who are visiting Wanganui for to-day’s match against Australia. A copy of a letter sent to Mr. J. B. Cotterill, M.P., by the Minister of Employment, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, was received. The letter stated that the work could be carried out with a subsidy of 45s per man per week for full time employment for registered and eligible married unemployed at not less than the current standard of public works rates of pay. Mr. Moye’s plan provides for the lowering of the existing playing area by from one to two feet, the spoil to be used for the building up of the "wedding cake” and two banks on the northern and southern sides of the ground. Under this proposal, he said, the "wedding cake" would provide accommodation for 7500 spectators while the northern and southern banks would provide accommodation for 1500 each. This would enable 14,000 people to secure an elevated view of the playing field. Mr. Moye said that he had secured an estimate of the cost, which was £9OO. The completed ground would be a miniature Cook’s Garden and would be an area of which the people of Wanganui would be proud. The cost to the union would be in the vicinity of £4OO. After a short discussion, in which it was evident that members were of the opinion that the time was ripe 'for extensive improvements to the park, it was decided to place the matter before officials of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. Mr. Moye was of the opinion that the undertaking should be carried out on the co-operative contract scheme which is in operation at the Wanganui Airport.