Conditions At Rugby Park Under Fire

Chronicle (Levin), 31 March 1949, Page 4

Conditions At Rugby Park Under Fire

The conditions existing in the stripping shed and conveniences at •Rugoy Park were- discussed at Tuesday night's annual meeting of ithe Horowhenua Rugoy Union. No ! immediate action was taken, but the management committee was ' recommended to look into the position. Descriibing the existing conditions .as disgracefui, Mr. P. O'Donnell, a delegate from the Athletic club, i brought the matter before the meeting. He pointed out that only one team could be accommodated I in the stripping shed and it j always led to difficulties, especially when two matches were being i played on the ground. Players were jforced to change among the trees I or behind cars at a time when the | ground was crowded with spectators. . The muddy condition of the ground on which the shed was built caused further inconvenience, -and at times it was impossible to get into it in bare feet because of broken bottles, stones and glass. The headmaster of the Ohau School, Mr. W. O. Neas, said that when the primary schoo's' seven-a-side tournament was held, it was necessary to arrange to have the conveniences cleaned out several days beforehand. He remarked that between 400 and 500 school children were on the ground in one day. The stripping shed was almost rotten and. would not last another year, commente'd Mr. O'Donnell. Rugby Park was a "tough proposition," remarked the president, Mr. R. L. Robinson. It was a leasehold property, but he agreed that conditions there should be respectciIDIG 1 Mr. C. H. Johnston: Is there not a Rugby Park improvement fund? Mr. Robinson: Yes, but little had been done with it in the past. J A suggestion was made that s another stripping shed should be built in such a manner that it could be moved from one place to another. This would obviate the muddy conditionsTn wet weather.