FOOTBALL ON EASTON PARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2856, 10 March 1925, Page 3

FOOTBALL ON EASTON PARK.

AN AMICABLE AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT.

Some finality in connection with the use of Easton Park as a football ground seems to have been reached at last. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council a letter was read from the Manawatu Rugby League Club, making application to play on Easton Park during the coming season, and pointing out that Foxton has been selected as the Centre and all rep. matches will he played here. Mr Winstanley waited on the •Council with an application for the use of the ground on behalf of the Soccer Club and Messrs F. Robinson and S. Austin on behalf of the Rugby Union. Mr Winstanley intimated that his club was prepared to pay up to £2 as a Hat rate for the use of the ground. Mr F, Robinson said that last year the Rugby Union had paid 15 percent, of the gate money to the Council. This year, perhaps, they would he prepared lo pay a little more. lie considered Rugby had a prior claim to the use of the park. League was, as yet, practically unknown. The All Blacks had made a name for New Zealand with their rugby and he did not think the National game was likely to die out. The local Rugby club had helped to clear East on Park mid put it in order.

Mr MeColl, who explained (hat he was nol a member of the delegation, lmt a Soccer sympathiser, asked why Ihe Rugby Club had not given the League Club a share of the gate money taken at (lie racecourse one Saturday lasi year, when both a Rugby and League match were played on I lie ground. Mr Robinson explained that the Rugby Club had obi.‘lined permission from (lie Racing Club lo use ihe ground and had been allotted that ground nearest to Victoria Park. League had formed a ground mar Mr Proctor’s house and their gale was the one on the eastern side ~f Ihe course. All money lake’ll at the- southern gale belonged to the Rugby Union.

Mr McCall: Who is Easton Park vc.-ted in ?

The Mayor: All Ihe people. Tl: is vested in the Council. Continuing, lie said that the question of football oil Easton Park was a knotty problem. They had to do justice to all parties and all should he allowed to play on the ground. The three clubs should get together and draw up a schedule of matches and submit them to Ihe Council. The important matches of: each club should be played oil the Park. He did not think one club should have the use of Easton Park for one season. Mr Winstanley said that senior games should have preference. They were a bigger draw and brought people to Foxton. Mr Austin said that the Council had derived revenue from the Rugby Union and he considered they should have a “leading hand in the game.” Cr. Adams said the matter should be held over for the new Council to discuss. They were a dying Council and would not be there much longer. A voice: Cheer up Bill. Continuing, Cr Adams said (hat Easton Park was nothing more than a goose paddock and a donkey common. The Council should spend money on it and make a decent park of it. The Mayor: We are going to mow it. Cr. Adams contended that clubs using the park should pay out to tlie Council on the 50—50 basis. The following motion, moved by the Mayor, and seconded by Cr. Bryant, was then read: “That the basis of letting Easton Park for football matches he set down at 30s for Saturdays and public holidays, and 15s for Wednesdays, 15 per cent of gross takings on other days. That the various football clubs be asked to submit a list of the fixtures for which they will require Easton Park and that the Reserves Committee meet and decide the final allotment among the clubs. That any club having booked the ground must pay the rental within 24 hours of the time sot down for the match. In the event of a match not being played, the rental must still be paid, but any such club may arrange with some other club to use the ground as may be agreed upon between the clubs, the club booking the ground in the first instance being- held responsible for payment of rent, in case of non-payment of the rent no further matches shall be played on the Park by the defaulting club until such payment has been made and Ihe Council or its appointee may thereupon proceed to allot the Park to some other

club. In laying down the above policy, the Council desires that important matches likely lo he of interest to the citizens shall he played on he Park, lesser matches being played on Ihe various other grounds available. That the Park he mowed a I the earliest opporluily.”

Mr Austin said that a 50 —50 basis was not fair. One gate last year was £32 and all the Union got ( nt of i| when expenses was paid was £5. That, money stayed in the town. Mr Robinson said that, this season it was probable that a Rugby team would tour the Nelson district. Was Cr. Adams prepared to pav 50 —50 the expenses of any loi a! players who might be selected? Cr. Smith said he favoured the percentage basis as against a flat rate for the ground. Cr. Ross considered the idea, embodied in the motion a good one. Clubs would put their best matches on the Park to be sure of good gates. After further discussion the motion was put and carried unanimously.