Sunday Football On Marton Park Again This Season

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 April 1949, Page 4

Sunday Football On Marton Park Again This Season

Whether the Marton Railway Football Club should be granted permission to play Sunday tootbal, on Marton Park this season in view of a motion passed last year that the council would not encourage Sunday sport on its reserves, was debated at length at a meeting of the Marton Borough Council on Wednesday night. A resolution giving the club permission was subsequently carried, but the Mayor (Mr T. E. Burton) and Cr. J. R. Howard asked that their votes bo recorded against the motion.

The letter before the council from the Railway Club stated that four Cascade Cup competition matches would be played in Marton this season and possibly two trial matches for the purpose of selecting the North Island railway team ‘o play the annual game against the South Island. The club also asked for permission to play a friendly match against Woodville at Marton Park on Sunday, May 1, and this was also given. The council stipulated, however, that the allocation of a ground at Marton Park was to be made by the reserves committee acting in conjunction with the president ot the Rangitikei Rugby Union.

The Mayor recalled that a similar application was received last year Ind as the* result of complaints made by the churches the council decided not to encourage Sunday sport on grounds under ts juirsdiction. There were wider implications than that, said Mr Barton, and he referred to the cost for the upkeep of the park. In 1947-48, he said, £164 was spent on park maintenance, and the revenue received amounted to £l2B, of which £5O was a grant from the Wanganui Automobile Association. For the year ended March 31, 1949. the upkeep cost the council £751 while the revenue amounted to only £65. A turn of £302 was spent on the playing areas alone. "Are we to supply playing areas on Sundays for organisations outside the borough?" asked the Mayor. He said that at the Marton racecourse there was a parking area which could be used for Sunday football, and it was right out of the town where noise would not create a nuisance.

"Personally. I think Sunday foothall is not desirable in tlie best interests of the younger generation. We have to guide them,” said Mr Barton. He said he had contacted an official ot the Marton Jockey Club, who said he saw no objection to the playing of Sunday football at the racecourse if a request, was made. Cr. E. C. Fogelberg reminded the Mayor that the resolution passed last year was to stop friendly matches be- ' tween firms on Sundays and not the I railways. I Cr. K. 11. Fowler pointed out that railwaymen were at a disadvantage in 'that Sunday was the only day they could play. The racecourse was a : parking ground, not a football field. ; Cr. A. Grade: A poor substitute. ; Referring to a remark made by Cr. : Fowler, the Mayor staled that in the olden days the rm'w.’i• 'nor had little i difficulty in getting c* lo play footj ball on Saturdays. The men themiselves arranged for their shifts to be i taken by fellow employees. 1 Mr Barton said r.v had been in 'communication with the president of 'the Rancitikei Rugby Union, who had ; no objection to the park being used ' for Sunday football, but be would like Ito be co-opted as far as allotting the I grounds was concerned. " 'TH challenge the statement that , Hie racecourse ground is not suitable I for football." said the Mayor. After further discussion a motion moved bv Cr. A. S. Blacklcdge and seconded'by Cr. E. C. Fogelberg that permission be granted was put to the meeting and carried with two dissentients. Discussion then ensued as to whether the council should make a levy on the Railways Club for the use of the park- but it was oecided to take no action.