HIGHER GATE CHARGES FOR BRITISH RUGBY TOUR; COSTS THE CAUSE

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 April 1950, Page 6

HIGHER GATE CHARGES FOR BRITISH RUGBY TOUR; COSTS THE CAUSE

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA)— The total cost of the British Rugby team’s tour would be £47,000, or £13,000 more than the highest cost of any previous tour of this country. That was the reason for the increased admission charges. This advice was given by Mr A. St. C. Belcher, chairman of the council, when a remit from Manawatu asking for these reasons came Before tne annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union today. Costs had soared tremendously, he said, but the policy of the union was still to fix what was considered a fair ground charge for the average man. For the 1904 and 1908 British teams' tours the ground charge for ordinary games was one shilling, and for tests two shillings, with stands at four and five shillings. For the 1921 Springbok tour the prices were raised to two shillings ground admission for ordinary games, 2s 6d for tests, stand charges varying from 7s 6d and 10s. In 1930 and 1937 the ground charges for ordinary games were 2s 6d and the stands 10s. For the tests ground charges were 2s 6d and the stands £l. For the coming British team’s tour the stand charges for the tests would be the same as in 1930 and 1937, but the ground charges ahd been Increased. These increases were considered justified in view of the tremendous advance in costs. Mr Belcher listed the following tour costs: 1930 British team: Steamer fares £5325, cost in New Zealand £28,948 total £34,273. 1937 South African team: Steamer fares £3991, cost in New Zealand £l9,6oo—total £23,591. 1950 British team: Steamer fares £12,000, cost in New Zealand £35,000 — total £47,000. The increased charges were approved by delegates. Another remit from Manawatu that consideration be given to some permanent means of assisting unions which were financially handicapped through population or geographical circumstances was, replaced by an Auckland motion that the new council consider the overall financial position of backward unions.