FOOTBALLERS AND THE PARK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 141002, 21 April 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALLERS AND THE PARK.

The two football clubs in Master-ton have requested the Borough Council to allow them the use of the Park oval during the coming season. Owing to the fact that the Cameron Park is not yet available for football the clubs are compelled to appeal to the Council for the use of the oval. The antiquated arguments against football being played on the oval are again being trotted out by selfish persons who fail to recognise that the toot bailors hare .lust as much rivlit to the oval as any other sports body or private individual. The statement is being made that the playing of football on the oval will interfere with the grounds for cricket. Atone time the whole of the club matches and representative games seen in Mas-ter-ton were played on the Park, and yet, when the cricket, season came along, the ground was just as good for cricket as ever —and the Park did not receive the attention then that it does to-day. Furthermore, football is played on the Basin Reserve and other cricket grounds in Wellington; on the Caledonian and Carisbrook grounds*in Dunedin, on the cricket grounds of Christchurch, Auckland, and every other progressive centre in New Zealand. There is no sound argument that can be advanced against allowing the footballers tire use of the Park oval. In any ease, the Cameron Park will be available for football next season, so that the footballers will not then require the Park. But the footballers and their supporters —a large number of whom are ratepayers —have a moral right in the matter, and the Borough Council should allow football to be played on the oval this season.