LARGE CROWDS ARE EXPECTED TO SEE AUSTRALIANS PLAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 24, 12 August 1949, Page 5

LARGE CROWDS ARE EXPECTED TO SEE AUSTRALIANS PLAY

The handling of the large crowds and a huge volume of traffic, which is expected to centre on Whakatane on August 20 to see Bay of Plenty play the touring Australian rughy team has presented a problem which has not been experienced .n the town previously. However, pr eparations to receive and dispe-se the crowds as quickly as possible have been made by the traffic inspector, Mr M. C. Bridge, in conjunction with the Legion of Frontiersmen. Detailed plans were outlined + o members of the Legion at a meeting this week. It is expected that the traffic will be handled smoothly as on all routes to the ground frontiersmen will be on duty to control and direct. The Legion of Frontiersmen has appealed to all people who will be coming to the ground on that day to -assist the controlling officers wlerever possible. They emphasise too. that as soon as vehicles enter the grounds they will be in complete control of the frontiersmen officers.

Many Visitors Expected Visitors to the game are expected from all over the Bay of Plenty and as far away as Waikato and Thames Valley. In these last two districts the Australians will not be appearing on this tour.

Many people travelling from some distances will spend most of the day in the town and arrangements are to be made to open extra feeding houses at meal hours. Football on the day will start at noon and there will be two curtain raisers before the big match commences at 3 p.m. Beside the spec ; al terraced seating, most of which has been reserved already, the Rugby Union is making arrangements to provide extra accommodation to sept from 700 to 800 people but these vvU not be reserved and will ha'/e to be claimed on the day. Beside tnis there will be ample standingroom.

The match is to be broadcast by the Bay of Plenty station IYZ.