ATHLETIC PARK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 171, 9 April 1918, Page 8

ATHLETIC PARK

RETAINED FOR RUGBY. Special reference to the question of the retention of Athletic Park for Rugby football is contained in the annual 'report of the committee of the Wellington Rugby Union. The report states—

"When last reporting the committee commended to delegates the consideration of , the financial question. It was clear that, with a heavy recurring liability, a special effort was necessary if the Park was to be retained for Rugby. Your committee, with the co-operation of many keen enthusiasts, convened a meeting to discuss ways and means, and the special committee then set up decided to make a direct appeal for sufficient funds to liquidate liabiiTcres and leave sufficient over to ensure that the Park would be retained. The response was more than gratifying, over £2000 being contributed. The fund has not yet been quite wound up, and, as the committee will publish their report in due course, more need not be said under this heading at present. It will be seen, by reference to the financial statements that the Park Trustees and your committee have kept the expenditure down to the lowest possible minimum. ' All the work connected with matches at the Park each week has been undertaken by members of the committee and willing assistants. The total Park expense was £479 Is. 9d.. of which £437 was rent, while the total expense connected with the union totalled £263 lls. Id., which includes expenses of home-and-home matches with Auckland and Wairarapa. Attention should be directed to the fact that since the .outbreak of war no expenditure has been made for upkeep and repairs at the Park. . The necessity"forsome expenditure becomes more urgent, and it is clear that some- repair work must be undertaken in the near future." '