FOOTBALL ON EASTON PARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2406, 18 March 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL ON EASTON PARK.

TENNIS CLUB STATEMENTS , OBJECTED TO. At the annual 'meeting of. the Football Club held on Thursday night, the lfiatter of agitation by various sports Hubs for playing areas on Easton Park was discussed. * Mr Whibley said that previously the Council had granted permission to the footballers to play west and east on Easton Park. Since then the Tennis Club had got to work and convened a meeting, where it was pointed out,to representatives of the Club that there was sufficient room for them to play north and south. The meeting was adjourned to measure the ground. Messrs Desmond, McMurray and himself had measured it, And found that there was not enough room north and south unless the drain at the south end was piped in. There is not sufficient ground, he said, as it is. The ground should be used by whatever sport is the most popular. The land belonged to the people of Eoxton, and they should be suited. Football draws a larger crowd of spectators than any other game. People were not to be* seen crowded round watching a tennis or croquet match. Football should be played in the centre of the town if possible. Mr D. Ball said a petition would justify football being played on Easton Park. . .

Mr Perrean said he could not speak as a member of the Beautifying Society" He was purely neutral, but he favoured a petition, the same as the others had. Another point was that the Tennis and Croquet Clubs had offered certain sums towards the maintenance of the ground. The footballers should try and oiler more. The whole thing was a matter of finance. Another thing was that a popular sport, was wanted for the Park. Of course, football was played but three months of the vear, whereas croquet and tennis were played about nine months, lie would like to see all sports in the Park. Mr Hoid said that re finance, the Club had about £3O or £4O in the Beautifying Society Funds already.

Mr Perrean said that that was so. The money had been earmarked, together with £2OO, for building a pavilion in the Park for dressing, etc.

Mr Reid: “That gives us a lead on the other clubs, then.’’ ' - Mr Perrean said that they wanted to consider the matter carefully. He was sure the Club was too generous to want to monopolise the grounds. Mr Whibley said that provided the footballers get sufficient room on the Park they did not care in what direction they played. The other clubs have grounds already, and want more. The footballers have not got a good ground. Re finance. He was sure that if this Club recommended the giving of a certain percentage of lhe gate money to the Council, the Ilorowlienua Rugby Union would grant it. He was sure a rep. match on Easton Park would result in a £25 gate. £lO from the Football Club was equal in proportion to the cost of maintenance to £25 given by the Tennis Club. The footballers would not want the ground looked after so much. The Croquet and Tennis Clubs would need their courts' cut and rolled every day. In his opinion they wanted something good, cheap, j

Mr C. Bryant said that the courts would need cutting 'only twice a week.

Air Perrcau pointed out that the Tennis Club had raised their fees so that it wasn’t, going to be something cheap to them. He also suggested that the footballers cut down the playing area. Mr Whiblev said that the Club could arrange the gate charge for twenty days a ; season only. This would see them through the season. There would not be one in twenty who would object to them charging at the gate. Mr E. Bryant suggested that the Club empower the Committee to say that the Rugby Union would give 25 per cent, of the gate takings, so that this argument could he used at the conference. .Mr Whiblev said that he did not. think 25 per cent, of all matches would he fair, ns rep. matches cost a great deal more. Mr Reid asked the Press to contradict the statement made by the Tennis delegates that the footballers had been approached on lie matter. They had pot. It was decided that representatives he sent, to the conference, and that; the Committee meet ~ at 6.30 p.m. on Monday, before the meeting, to discuss the situation.