Local Bodies To Get More Rugby Profits

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1948, Page 4

Local Bodies To Get More Rugby Profits

The Horowhenua Rugby Union on Tuesday night agfeed to meet tne Foxton Borough Council's demand for 20 per cent. of the g'ross gate takihgs at matches . held at the domain, instead of 10' per cent. as pr-eviously. The decision was taken after the president/Mt. A, Gillespie, and Messrs. F. G. Carrington and ,J, E. Fullarton had reported on the failure of their representations to the council on Monday night. The matter' was a grave one, as the union iyas placed in the position that'it might lose the ground for all time if it declined. to use the domain this year and instructed the Foxton Club to make other arrangements, said • Mr. Gillespie. The discussioris with the council had been cordial, but he thought that the union could have been Studied better by the council, particnlarly after its financial position this year had been explained in detail. The deputation had put all its cards on the table. The union's losses had been made known to the council and the last balance sheet tabled. It seemsd that the union would have to concede to the Council's reques't, even though it iooked as if a pistol was being put at the union's head, continued Mr. Gillespie. In view of this, and although the' union's finances would suffer, he considered .that the percentages of the other local bodies in the union's area should be reviajyed. After some discussion, it was agreed that the increase to 20 per cent. be granted to the Foxton Borough Council, and that a similar increase be offered to the other local bodies. After further discussion on how the increase could be met by the union, it was decided that consideration be given to the raising pf the gate fees to representative matches in the union's area, the price to be fixed at a later meeting. Mr. T. Winiata suggestsd that the previous decision to refrain from raising the gate fee for club matches be rescinded, but tfiis wasnot generally favoured and lapsed.