CITY COUNCIL MAY REOPEN CASE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24906, 20 June 1946, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL MAY REOPEN CASE

At the last meeting of the Christchurch City Council a resolution asking the Canterbury Rugby Union, in the interests of citizens, to reconsider its decision on Lancaster Park, was moved by Cr G. D. Griffiths. This was withdrawn after Cr. J. N. Clarke, a member of the union, had expressed the opinion that a solution acceptable to the Canterbury Rugby League would be found. Cr. Griffiths said yesterday that, tailing such a solution, he would feel justified in reopening the matter at the next meeting of the' council. Little comment on the union’s statement was offered by the Mayor (Mr E. H Andrews), who had already ruled that as a matter of public interest the City Council was in order in discussing the question. He said the public would be glad to learn the

union’s viewpoint; but whether it would be satisfied with it was another question. He himself thought it was regrettable that the English League team could not have the best ground available in the city. It emphasised the need for another first-class ground, such as the City Council had planned at English Park. Unfortunately war conditions had prevented the council putting English Park in order.,

REPLY BY COUNCIL OF SPORT

The following comment on the Rugby Union’s statement was made by Mr A. R. Blank, chairman of the Canterbury Council of Sport: “A point to be remembered is that the Rugby Union was a member of the organisation when it was the Council of Amateur Sport,” he said “When the dispute arose over what constituted amateur sport, and the word ‘amateur’ was deleted from the title, the Rugby Union and the Amateur Athletic Association withdrew as members. “Nevertheless, the council to-day represents 22 or 23 sporting bodies with a very considerable individual membership. Surely the voice of the sporting public should be heard by a bodysuch as the Rugby Union. “The council had no intention of interfering. or any idea of dictating to the Union, but wished to see that the sporting public were given a fail dea] by allowing the use of Lancaster Park, a ground which the public consider is a public park, to be used bv the English visitors. “It was an unsporting gesture on the part of the Union to refuse even to hear the deputation from the council," said Mr Blank. “This put the Union in a bad light.”