FOOTBALL ON EASTON PARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2289, 14 June 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL ON EASTON PARK.

COUNCIL AND BEAUTIFYING

SOCIETY TO CONFER

At last night’s Council meeting Cr. Bryant stated that he did not agree with football being played in the centre of Easton Park. He considered the proper place for football w r as the race course. He stated that he did not mind the footballers using a half, or even two,thirds of the ground, but that they had no right to monopolise the whole park. , Cr. Smith stated that permission had been given to the footballers to play on the Park. He did not consider that it was a fair thing, however, for the public lo have to pay for admission to the park on Saturday afternoons, as the grounds were donated as a gift, and for their use. He had heard several complaints about having to pay for admission on Saturdays. Cr. Rand said that in the cities, the parks were always used for sports'.

Cr. Coley said the people should not object to pay for admission, as the proceeds obtained in this way were spent on improvements to the park. He objected to the footballers using the middle of. the Park, but if they used the lower end ha would have no objection. He considered that one of the best football grounds in New Zealand was at the race course.

Cr. Thompson stated that the people should have a chance to make use of the park and enjoy themselves there. If the lower end was too small for football, the Council should not permit the game to be played in the centre. Cr. Bryant was of the opinion that the goal posts could not be moved five yards.

Cr. Whibley stated that the goal posts could -be shifted 25 to 30 yards. If the game was played east and west there was still plenty of room for beautifying purposes. He considered' the majority of the people would like to see football played there. There was plenty of room if the posts were shifted down for cricket, football, and hockey. Cr Thompson asked if that complied with the plans submitted. There was not ro,om for football if played north and south. Cr. Coley stated there would, bti plenty of room if the playing ground was shifted to one side. Cr. Martin asked what good tho pavilion would be if the Council was going to place an embargo on all sports. There was no convenience at the race course. In a little while they would have tennis club?) looking for courts there. He considered Easton Park was the proper place for a football field.

Cr. Bryant said that lie did not object to the game being played there, but to haying the ground monopolised for football. When the game was in progress the whole width was taken up with-people on (he lines, and he did not consider this left sufficient room for other purposes. He favoured the erection of a pavilion at the race course. On the last day a match was played they took almost as much at the race course as they did at Easton Park, so evidently the people d:d not mind going a little out of town. In the cities people went out of town to witness games, which weren’t played in the centre of the town.

The Mayor stated that the Beau-i tifying Society proposed having an oval in the Park, and that the Council had only giyen temporary permission to play football there.

Cr. Whibley stated that the matter could be left for a while, as no football would be played there again this year. Subsequently Cr. Coley proposed, and Cr. Walker seconded, that tin) Council confer with the Beautifying Society on the subject, which was carried.