A CITY PARK IN DANGER
A serious position has arisen in connection with the Athletic Park sports ground, and tho circumstances are such that even at this time when so many calls are being rnado on the purses of the citizens tho appeal for assistance that is going forth should command both sympathy and practical support. This' fine playground and breathing space is likely tota lost to the city unless citizens lend their aid to the movement designed to save it. Tho situation is one entirely due to the war. Tho ground, which is held on leaso by tho local Rugby Union, and v>hich is utilised by football clubs, colleges, and public schools and sports bodies generally for their games and matches, was more than self-supporting prior to the war. Indeed, from tho surplus revenue derived from this ground the Rugby Union was.enabled to lease playing grounds in the suburbs for the healthy recreation of tho young men and youth of tho community. It was in fact tho mainstay of our national game locally as well as a valuable playground for children living in tho neighbourhood and a useful breathing space in tho oity, whore such open areas are few and far botween. With tho war and the call to the manhood of the nation there was an immediate and gonerous response from the ranks of tho senior players of the Rugby game. Hundreds of young men Bpcciajly fit physically by virtue of their football training, and well disciplined by years of teams .play and observance of tho "rules of the game," donned khaki and won fame on the heights of Gallipoli, in tho deserts of Syria-, and in the fields of France. The patriotism'and spirit of these Rugby players, whilo it helped materially to swell the ranks of our earlier reinforcements, at the same time robbed senior play here of all interest, and some time ago tho Rugby Union .abandoned senior footbalf altogether for tho period of the war. In doing_ so it at the same time cut off practically its only source of revenue, for it was from the attendances at tho Athletic Park which senior games and representative matches attracted that it dorived its income. Now it is faced with the certainty of having to lose this ground, its chief mainstay, unless old footballers and' tho public generally come to its assistance. A campaign to raise funds has been inaugurated, and wo would commend it to the sympathetic attention of all who are in a position to assist. In the event of the Rugby Union being unable to raise the money required, tho ground will iu all probability be subdivided and built on. Tho loss to Rugby football will bo irreparable, for no other ground of this nature is availablo in the town area, but it will mean much moro than that. It will mean a loss to the city and to tho community generally, a handicap to the rising generation in the indulgence in a healthy and invigorating athletic sport which has spread the fame of New Zealand throughout tho wholo civilised world, and which Tiaß played no small part in developing the physique and moulding the character of our splendid civilian soldiers now fighting overseas. Athletic sports to-day are properly kept in the background, but they mean much to our rising generation ■ and indeed to the future of our race. With tho war over the Athletic Park will again, it may be hoped, prove selfsupporting, but in the meantime it is likely to bo lost altogether to Wellington unless tho public spirit of its citizens enables the union to tide over its present difficulties. Wo owo something in this matter to tho Rugby men who have gone to play a bigger game overseas and to whom tho loss of the Park to their old game would come as a severe disappointment. Tho amount that it is hoped to raise is £3000, and a good "beginning has been made in this direction. We shall be glad to acknowledge any donations sent to. this office and to forward'' them ,on to the propor quarter.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3155, 6 August 1917, Page 4
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687A CITY PARK IN DANGER Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3155, 6 August 1917, Page 4
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