Tomorrow Is Big Day For Rugby Followers

Chronicle (Levin), 31 August 1949, Page 4

Tomorrow Is Big Day For Rugby Followers

Followers of rugby from all parts of the Dominion will be in' Levin tomorrow to see the New Zealand team's » work-out with Horowhenua in a match to be played on the Levin Park Domain. The securing of this match for Levin will be a great boost to local football- and will also assist tne finances of the Horowhenua Rugby Union .considerably.. Admission charges for the game, are advertised in this issue and it is pointed out that as the game is controlled by the New Zealand Rugby Union, season tickets will not be acceptable. Minor unions such as Horowhenua are not usually given games of this nature and Thursday's match is an experiment and also planned as an encouragement to players. For this reason the union is hoping for a large gate and perfect coordination of arrangements. Mayor Appeals For Support. ° In a statement today, the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, invited all business people to close their .premises from 1 p.m. to aliow their staifs to attend. It was in the interest of the town to ensure that the day was a complete success, as -it was hoped later to persuade the New Zealand union to have similar fixtures here on future occasions. The on'y way to> ensure this was by impressing the visitors with the fact that Levin could do justice to the occasion and in this regard the utmosfc co-operation of the business people was essential. Mr. Burdekin said he would also like to ask occupiers of premises to display bunting. It was hope'd that the Levin Municipal Band would be in attendance and play the march for which it gained credit at the recent contest in Masterton. Here again, however, the co-operation of employers- would be neeessary in allowing bandsmen time off. Parking Of Cars. The following are the arrangements for the parking and control of vehicles in the vicinity of the grottnd, as drawn up by -the Transport Department: — Queen Street: From Chamberlain Street to Weraroa Road there will be parallel parking — two Ianes on the left facing Weraroa Road and one lane on the right facing Oxford

Street. Bath Street: No parking on left between Salisbury Street *' and Weraroa Road, the reason being to preserve new grass and trees. Salisbury Street: Buses oniy between Bath Street and Queen Street; no entry from Bath Street; buses will proceed via Queen Street; parking will be on both sides of the road facing south. The Automobi'e Association- will be in charge of bus parking and the Legion of Frontiersmen /will supervise car parking in Queen Street. Motorists are asked to cooperate fully with these officials. There will be seven traffic inspectors operating in the area. The big game starts at 2.15 p.m. and is preceded at 12.45 p.m. with a curtain-raiser, Rongotai Coilege v. Horowhenua Coilege. Special seating accommodation has been arranged. "Help To Players" — Presidient. "We are aiming to get our players into bigger football and have been successful in getting six in the game with Australia and have also this game with the New Zealand team on Thursday," sald Mr. R. L. Robinson,- president of the Horowhenua Rugby Union last night. "If any of our players have got any merit we want to give them 'the opportunities. I am sure that we will have a great day. We are getting help from all quarters, but we must have the support of the public," he said. "I know it is a working day, but we don't want any forms empty and I appeal to the employers" to support the Mayor's invitation to close their premises during the match. "We have never had a match like this in Levin before and 1 want to hear the New Zealand management committee say 'Let us have another in Levin.' We have done our best to see that the players an-d the playing field are right up to standard. All arrangements .have also been made Ifor t'he comfort of the spectators and the Levin. Racing Club and Horowhenua A. and P. Association have loan'ed us forms, while the Levin Borough Council has done everything we have asked it to. With the public behind us I kpow it will be a successful day," Mr. Robinson concluded.