USE OF DOMAIN FOR RUGBY

Chronicle (Levin), 18 April 1947, Page 2

USE OF DOMAIN FOR RUGBY

COUNCILLORS HAVE DIVERGENT VIEWS An application for the use of the Otaki Domain during the comL.g fdotball season, and offering .10 per cent. of the gross gate takings, was received from the Horowhenua Rugby U'nion at the -monthly meeting of the Otaki Borough Council this we'ek. The union said the. opening day had been fixed for April 19, and enquired whether the ground cquld be made available for that date. The Otaki Football Club wrote seeking the use of the , domain again for the season and enclosed £4 8s 6d for chargeS. Letters from the Rahui Club sought the use of the domain on Tuesday and Thurs- , day nights for . training purposes and on Saturdays for matches.

. The letters were discussed at a leingth and while some councillors a agreed that the terms be the same c as last season, others felt that y footballers werepaying insufflcient t for a ground that had cost the i council a considerable sum of \ money. ^ „ £ Crs. Bartosh and Gimblett fav- t oured an increase in the price and c received support from the Mayor ] and Cr. Bennett. Crs. Young, c Cook and Hakaraia favoured a i continuation of last year's "charge. ( - Cr. Bartosh suggested that a 3 rerntal of £5 a year be charged the ^ uhion as well as taking ten per cent. of the gate money. He considered the union could well afford ] to pay this amount, and it should do so, especially as the upkeep of the ground had been a heavy one to the council. A considerable sum had been expended following the return of the ground after it had been used by the Government to restore it to its original state. Cr. Cook pointed out that the union was not overburdened with finance, and that it had a good deal of expense to meet. Cr. Gimblett. stated that he had been connected with clubs in various parts where players had to find their own grouiids and keep them in order. Cr. Young considered that football should 'be encouraged. If councillors were adverse to the suggestion of the union, he thought that the council should write to other local- bodies in the district and ascertain what they were charging. Cr. Hakaraia was of a similar view and strdngly urged that the game should be- encouraged. A motion was' put by Cr. Bartosh, ! and supported by the Mayor and Crs. Gimblett and Bennett, that a ' charge of £5 be made in addltion : to ten per cent. of the gate money. [ After further- discussion, Cr. : Young moved that letters be sent ! to other local bodies to ascertain : their charges. This was agreed to, footballers in the meantime to > have the use of the ground. * Cr. Cook pointed out that at ! Paraparaumu -footballers had the " use of "the domain free of charge. 3 He also stated that it it was pos5 sible that the Rahui Club would " make use of some of Mr. Moffatt's > land for play. In connection with the two clubs > it was decided to refer the matter " to the union for ailocation, but to • point'out that not more than two J matches were to be played on the 1 domain on the one day.