LACK OF SUPPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 28 October 1939, Page 8

LACK OF SUPPORT

N.Z. RUGBY UNION SMALL BODIES NEGLECTED WAIROA COUNCIL VIEWS (Sjwi'Ul to tin! Herald.) WAIROA, this day. The opinion that the New Zealand Rugby Union should offer more support to the smaller unions was expressed by the Mayor, Mr. H. L. Marker, when the Wairoa Borough Council received a deputation from the Wairoa Rugby Sub-Union at its meeting last evening.

The deputation sought assistance from the council with regard to the amount of revenue paid to the council each year and it was decided to meet the request of the deputation, contingent on the New Zealand union also doing its part financially. The deputation consisted of Messrs. Cl. M. O'Malley. W. J. Brownlie and 11. Nightingale.

Mr. O'Malley pointed out that the agreement with the council expired this season. Despite good gates, the expenditure of the sub-union had con-

siderably increased, and despite economies, the union had a debit balance of £SO for the year. A strong credit balance had been considerably whittled away and the position of the union was difficult.

The council was asked to cut the debit balance in half with a view tc assisting the union in its plight. To ,'o this the council was asked to reduce its share of the gate. No Grants from N.Z.R.U.

Mr. W. Brownlie, secretary of tL Rugby Union, said that all small unions were in tne same position u.A'airoa. it was impossible to carry on as at present and he feared that the game would go out of existence i:i five' years uauss the position was. rectified.

The previous speakers were supported by Mr. Nightingale, treasurer of the sub-union, and. replying to the Mayor, Mr. Brownlie said that the sub-union did not participate in grants from the New Zealand Kugb\ Union.

The Mayor commented that the part played by Rugby in the country centres should warrant the support o: the New Zealand union. The New Zealand Union was a wealthy body and should be called upon to spent some of its funds (o help the struggling unions. "This district has been one of the homes of Rugby in New Zealand, continued Mr. Harker. adding that il was unfair of the New Zealand Union to support as it did the major union: ft was* up to the New Zealand Rugbj lion to definitely assist the smallci unions.

Mr. O'Malley supported the Mayor’s contention that the New Zealand Union should support the minoi unions and said that some members of the sub-union wished to shift the Raying ground back to Nor*h Clyde.

Broadcasts of Big Games

Cr. C. R. Sainsbury said that lie would support the Mayor’s contention and added that the broadcasting of big games had a detrimental effect on the gates for the smaller unions. Cr. J.-O. Scott supported the view hat it was up to the New Zealand Rigby Union to support the game in he smaller districts from its funds. The council should support the game, contended Cr. M. J. Gemmell who said that the game was responsible for revenue being spent in the town. He would definitely be in favour of supporting the sub-union.

The Mayor suggested that the coun

’il offer a reduction of 10 per cent o amount count to what the New Zealand Rugby Union also should be prepared to grant. If the New Zealand Tu gby Union would do this, the council would follow its lead. He moved that the council support the sub-union up to the same extent as the New Zealand Union was prenqred to do, the sum not to exceed £3O. The motion was seconded by Cr. L. Galbraith, and carried.