EASTER MONDAY SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4377, 31 March 1875, Page 2

EASTER MONDAY SPORTS.

jro TUB EDITOR. Sir, —I observe a' letter in your issue of this morning, signed by “Gate,’' in which it is stated that the public have a right to free admission to the Basin .Reserve at anytime, ami at all times, and that the members of the lately formed Amateur Athletic Club place themselves on a level with professionals by collecting gate money. I think that “ Gate ” can hardly have made any inquiries on the subject prior to writing his letter. I believe that the facts ot the matter are as follows-First, as regards the right to charge for admission, the Reserve is vested in three trustees (Messrs. G. Crawford. T. Buchanan, and J. C. Crawford), to bo by thorn used for tho public benefit, who, to obtain money for improvements—for which there - Is unmistakcahly great room—let tho ground to societies and clubs, for tho various holidays, thus providing not only funds—to bo spent ©n tho ground, fences, &c.—but also amusements for the public, who, by paying for admission to tho ground on these occasions, escape, in a great measure, being called on for contributions towards keeping the place in order. Secondly, with regard to the propriety of amateur clubs charging for admission to tho ground, “Gate"

must remember that getting up sports, &c., is very expensive, for not only have the promoters to supply prizes, but also to pay heavily for the ground, expense of advertisements, band, and many smaller things necessary to ensure success. Of course, some profit is made by a club on a day’s sports if they are even moderately successful; but the public cannot grumble at this, nor can any one, with justice, say that amateurs are playing at being professionals, if this profit is well employed. With reference to yesterday’s sports, more especially, for which certain gentlemen in this city provided most of the prizes, thus greatly lessening this item of expense, I may state that a portion of the profit will most probably be used, if the trustees and the Caledonian Society will co-operate, in improving the Keserve, by making a quarter-mile course on it, and by so arranging that at future sports novelties, such as steeplechases with water jumps, &c., may be introduced into the programme. I may further state that the Amateur Athletic Club was started with the intention of not only encouraging running, but also all manly sports, more especially boating, football, and cricket; and also that the club has no intention of always calling on the public to pay for admission to the Reserve, but rather to as frequently as possible give an afternoon’s amusement to the public, without calling on them to in any way contribute to the expense.—l am, &c., Member, Amateur Athletic Club.