PROBLEM OF CROWD CONGESTION AT SPRIGGENS PARK

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 June 1948, Page 4

PROBLEM OF CROWD CONGESTION AT SPRIGGENS PARK

Congestion at the two exits from Spriggens Park at the conclusion of the representative match between Wanganui and t’aranaki on King's Birthday morning came in for criticism in an anonymous letter before the Rugby Union management committee last night.

“Women and children were packed in a mass of humanity, with odd ones in a nervous state," read the letter, “and there would have been trouble had anyone fainted. “It is to be hoped that these two narrow exits receive early attention,” concluded the letter.

Delegates agreed with the sentiments expressed in the letter, Mr. C. Stewart stating that congestion at the exits was most acute on Monday. Mr. E. Barnett: The whole trouble is that people are in a great hurry to leave the ground. If we opened the gate mid-way along the fence behind the “wedding ca'ke" it would co some distance towards relieving the congestion.

Mr. S. R. Ambrose: Bikes are the worst bugbear. They get tangled up with people at the gates, trip them and dirty trousers and frocks.

“Keep bikes out of the ground then," suggested Mr. Barnett. Mr. W. R. McElwain said that it had been necessary to shift more than 50 pupils from one primary school, who had parked their bicycles on the “wedding cake."

It was finally resolved to open the gate behind the “wedding cake" when the size of crowds at Rugby matches on Spriggens Park warranted it.