Athletics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 139, 28 February 1903, Page 19

Athletics.

"Plugger" Bill Martin held a cycling sports meeting at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday of last week, and, apart from the competitions themselves, had some rare experiences for him. Let me detail them, and you will agree with me that sports promoters in Wellington have hearts of lions when they anticipate making a success financially of their gatherings. For Martin's experience is not an isolated one — local sports promoters have met, and had to surmount, similar obstacles. The first thing Mr. Martin did was to obtain permission to hold the sports from the City Council, and. on paying the sum of £7 10s to that body, lie received a receipt for the same, and considered that as far as the ground was concerned he had no more to do. However, the City Council informed Martin that five pc roent. of the gross takings at the gate had to be handed over to them. Martin agreed to carry out this condition. As everybody knows who takes an interest in spart, the Basin Reserve is never in a fit condition to hold sports, and Martin and his committee set to work to get. the ground in order. An interview with Mr. Twist, the Cricket Association's ground-man, was held and he stated he could improve the pround a little if permission was given him by the Association. This involved the loan from the Association of a horse and roller and lawnmower. On approaching the Ground Committee, Mr. Martin and the secretary of his committee were astounded to find that the Association wanted £5 (five pounds) for the loan of the articles mentioned, and the services of their ground-man for a day and a-half . They stated that as they were losing £4 8s worth of fees through the sports being held, some recompense should be made them by Martin. They never considered that, as the City Council had let the ground over their heads, it was to the Council the-^ should have looked for the making up to them of the loss of their ground fees. However, that was satisfactorily arranged by £2 10s being offered for the loan of the material and the services of the ground-main, and a written authority was senti the ground-man by an executive officer of the Association to do the necessary work. Martin's surprise, therefore, can be imagined when he arrived at the Reserve om Wednesday to find that notihing had been done because the money had not been paid in advance' The £2 10s was forthcoming, and the track was marked out, but the rolling of the ground and the cutting of the grass received very scant attention. But that was not all. After paying his money to the City Councd no trouble was expected from that quarter. But some came, all the same. On the Tuesday night it was common talk in tow m that the sports would not be held the next' day — there was something wrong. The head gardener, it was

averred, had received no instructions ! He got them in good time, but the rumour had got a start, and did Martin harm all the same. And, tihen to crown all, there were as many people enjoying the sports from outside the fenoe as there were lnEide. Martin's experience should deter any people from outside Wellington — or even in Wellington itself—^attempting siports meetings in Wellington on a future occasion. The dailv papers state that £25 profit was made over the meeting — thei correct thing would be to read "loss" instead of "profit." The total sum taken at the gates was £48, of which the Council received £2 8s and the pnzei-money paid away amounted to £45. The ground cost £12 8s — good rent, admittedly, for a ground that does not keep the pubic from looking over the fence — and advertising and other expense® added to this will show wliere the loss oomes in. I extend my sympathies to Martin, and regret that after his long experience in athletic oircles he should drop aJcross such bad luck in Wellington. However, if it is any satisfaction to him, I can assure him his experiences are not unique. Some years ago now, there were sports held by the Caledonian, Hibernian and Druids' Societies, the Eight Hours/ Union, and the Amateurs annually but where are they now ? All of them had to discontinue holding sports owing to the aipathy of the public, and the "deadhead" element over the fence.