FOOTBALL CHARGES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17111, 5 April 1921, Page 10

FOOTBALL CHARGES.

DISCUSSED BY LANCASTER PARK BOARD OF CONTROL. The charges of admission to bo made at Lancaster Park for club football matches this season were considered at a meeting or the Board of Control of Lancaster Park yesterday afternoon. There were present Mr C. R. Clark (chairman), Dr. Thacker, M.P., Messrs F. Wilding, F. D. Kesteven, S. A, Orchard; H. H. Waucliop, I>., Reese, S. F'. Wilson, W.. Simpson, and H. B. Gould (secretary). .A' balance-sheet for the 12 months ended March 31st showed an cxpendi-. ture of £1402 os Bd,.with a low* on the year's working of £l2B 18s 3d. The position to-day' was that the liabilities amounted to £791. Cash in hand totalled. £341 os 4d, and the balance which must, be derived from the 1921 football season, was £449 14'* Bd. The Canterbury Rugby Union wrote stating that it was desired to charge Is 6d and 9d this season for'admission to the enclosure and embankment respectively. The charges last season were Is and 6d;

•The chairman, stated that the charges desired by the Rugby Union formeu the chief reason for the meeting. _As the balance-sheet showed, the. lioard had worked on a loss last season, and it wai essential that more revenue should be forthcoming.- Though he thought that a governing body of a sport should be entitled to iix its own minimum charges of admission, , the prices fixed by the Rugby Union' would make much difficulty at- the stiles, and the Union might perhaps consider making the charges Is and Is (3d.

Mr "Wilding said he took it that it was for the Board to fix the terms on which the Rugby Union, or any other body, should use and control the ground. Mr Orchard: It is for the Board to fix the minimum charge. Mr Reese: If it has been considered for years that the minimum charge of 6d is fair; it is quite right that the Rugby Union should make its minimum 9d.

Mr Kesteven said that 9d was certainly a most awkward charge. He had been assured that there were not enough threepenny pieces in- Christchurch to meet 4 the' situation. The ground had been run too 'cheaply in the past, and ' the minimum .. charges should be at least Is and Is 6d,. and he would move in that direction for all sports. , Mr "Wilson said. that he considered Mr Kesteven should support the charges decided upon by the Rugby Union. The Union had' considered that a 50 per cent.- increase was a fair thing from a commercial point of view. If the Board thought* any sport, were charging too little it should ask for a better percentage. Mr Orchard, in supporting the proposition, said that if the Board were going to. establish a sinking fund, a fair charge must be made. The minimum should not bo -less than Is and Is 6d.

Mr Clark said that uniformity in the percentages charged to the various sports bodies was an absolute necessity. Mr Wilson, said that he thought it would be quite wrong for the Board to fix a minimum charge, though it would' be quite right in fixing its own minimum amount from a gate. Aj a matter of principle, he thought .the body governing the particular sport should fix the entrance-fee, while- the Board should fix the percentage it was-to. receive. ' •" ' . ' "'

■.The chairman said ho considered that the. proposition .was. a great mistake. The"; charges werpronlyfor club-fixtures, and the Cricket- Association,' for instance, made no charge at all for club matches. He did not think that the Board should interfere with the body governing the sport in fixing the charge*. '"'■ ' 'lt was pointed put that the Board last year obtained £l7O horn club football. Cricket had: realised about £6O.

Dr/ Thaoker agreed! with the chairman that the,.sports bodies should- fix their tariffs themselves. He thought, however, .that la 6d and 6d would- bo ah 'improvement in the suggested charges. The extra charge to. the embankment would pjobably keep many people »wa.y. > . Mr Wilson-- said 'that' the Rugby Union-were- faced witn considerable expenditure, and could, not very well carry on without an increased charge. He thought the Board could "carry, on" with the extra revenue it would receive from the increased charges. Personally, ho was in favour.of the Is and Is' 6d idea, but. he considered he was bound to support the body he represented, tho Rugby Union. Mr Wilding thought'the best course would be for the Board to meet the Rugby Union in conference. Personally, he considered a ninepenny gate was impracticable. He moved, as an amendment,, -flint the question of fixing the charges for club matches should be referred to the chairman to confer with delegates from the Rugby Union. After , 3ome further discussion,. the amendment was carried by ; 4- votes to 3, though there were nine voting delegates present.