WELLINGTON RUGBY ARENA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3155, 6 August 1917, Page 6

WELLINGTON RUGB Y ARENA

SAVING ATHLETIC PARK FOR THE PEOPLE APPEAL BY THE RUGBY ~ UNION "The committee of the Wellington Rugby Union has decided, as a Jiatterof duty to its 3500 un.mbers now at the? front, that a sfcroiuous effort should be. made to retain the Athletic. Park as a., playing ground. The park belongs to. .Natives, for whom the Public Trustee: acts. In 1014 the .Rugby Union, on behalf of its players, entered into m a neiw lea.se of tho park for. 2t years. This entails an annual expenditure for rent, rates, interest, etc., of MM upproximately). In normal times the revenun derived from attendances at the park: just about suffices to cover these out,goings and pay rent for the many otheic City Corporation and jirlvateiy-ownecl grounds required to accommodate ttw 2000 players taking 1 part every week mi Kugby football. On the outbreak of war., and since, -' practically every eligible* Rugby footballer has enlisted, and thei game is now confined, to players " n ° e ?" military age. The departure of all the: prominent players naturally affected the : v. attendance at the park. In consequence of this, the finances of the undon ever since the wa rstaAed have been drifting back, and, unless J23000 is raised' 1 " the next few months the park Vill be lost to the citv of Wellington as a recreation ground. The committee would pom* out that, in addition to the playing of football at week-ends, the park is used by the State schools for their championship matches every week, and also bj St. Patrick's College, Marist Broth Ore, and Scots College students as their training grounds. The park also is at s\!l times of the year available as a plaj* ground for children, who take advantage of the privilege in large numbers. t.n; these grounds alone the .'•ommittee considers it is entitled to the support o% the general public. "It has been decided to appeal lo thfc public for financial assistance, wnioh im.j; be rendered either by donations or by, the purchase, of a 10s.- season ticketi which will entitle tho holder to admission to the park and stands. A™ 0"", s '' those who are >in sympathy with the Rugby Union in this endeavour to retail: the Athletic Park as a recreation ground! are: Colonel Potter (Commandant of th«= Trentham Camp), J. P. Firth,.(principal of Wellington College), and. Dr. Newman, M.P. The committee is: confident that the movement will.have; your support, not only as a memorial t«: the many Rugby footballers who liawi already made the great sacrifice, but also, "as an acknowledgment of the magnificent: manner in which the players of all games; have so nobly lined up for the greatest game of all. . AVe earnestly appeal for vour support in our effort to retain and hand over to the boys who come back the ground with which is plated » many happy memenes of the days before Zr offered their all for their country-. It is intended, where practicable, to wait personally- on you in connection with tnet matter, but in the meantime any donations or applications for tickets will be> gratefully reived by the hon. treasurer Mr W. F. Hoinig, "160 Cuba Street, oiany members of the xomniittee.-loura ■ Dr.' 5 !. K. Newman, President Wellington: Dr. p U F r ??Evedy, Chairman Park Fun* JD. Chairman, Wellington Rugby. S. Wright, Hon. Secretary, Park Fund Committee." DONATIONS ALREADY ANNOUNCED. The Athletic Park Fund Committee announces the following donations:Staples and Co . y 100 j> '<► Colonel Potter, Trentham 5 j V> J. P. Filth, College 5 5 : ft Corporal Cotter, Trentham B fi ft Dr. MTSvedy, 'Wellington- j>,- ? ' G. Tripe u,--;r i 7 ft Major Mounsey, Trentham ....... 1 1 '» A. F. Wiren, Wellington 1 1 » A E. Odlin, Wellington « » « E T. Turnbull, Wellington ... u 2 O P.' Sla'dden, Wellington .•••••-•••• \ « " Col. G. F. C. Campbell, Wgtn. 1 1 » H. E. Card, Featherston 5 5 l> John Barcley, Pahautanui .... 1 * TIP. Albert Martin, Wellington 2 2 Or, Dr. Alex. Robertson, Brooklyn o 0 n Dr. Newman. Wellington ?0 n 0 J. T. King, Wellington -1 1 « N.Z. Insurance Co l« » » W. E. Kempthorne - - " C. A. Ewen ..... : ■' •' „, D A. Aborcromme >■• ' " - G.H. Briarley i Vn Royal Exchange Insurance '{ '{ n "A Sport" • n 1(1 r M-«y ;■•;;;;;; I — Sullivan n 10 a J. P. Blacklock .-. 0 10 £ W. Harris X ' £ W. E. Bethune ; r „ W. H. Moorhouso . ••••••••■• ? « \raior Matheson, Somes Island 5 0 « H. Desborough £ „ a C. A. Richardson - ' - H.' A. Nicholson i i a, A. S. Biss * * „, A. E. Kernot • . . n . Dr. P. F. M'Evedy IJ 1^ Dr. Fyffe 1 „ 3 "A Sport" " - Total ..■•' ; 2 I!? ln - n Season tickets f w " Life member •__.--• Grand total «» V ?