THE SITE 0? THE STAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 25, 23 September 1912, Page 5

THE SITE 0? THE STAND.

MEEITNG OF COMMITTEE ON nil

GROUNDS

Some twenty-five memoi rs ;T the General Committee visited the btiow urounus on oatuiday ai. *\.in..*:. a..u, in tne nuust of a uwavy driving ram, me committed went over tne grounds and discussed tne respective merits and demerits of the various sites. A mooting was tnen nold in t'nu ii.ncneon rov»m. 'XJie Pros.dent (...r. vv. JF. luriivvooti) presided. I'ue President said he was very pleased to see such a splend.d ~t-tendanco. tendanco. He did not think they would have any difficulty in arriving at a decision. But whatever decision was arrived at, ne hoped that afterwards members would abide loyally by that decision. (Applause.) He moved that the site be on the southern end of the oval, as approved by the Executive Committee. . ,

Mr. Stewart seconded the motion. In his opinion the executive had selected the best sito available. From a money making point of view this was undoubtedly the place for the stand. Mr. S. M. Porritt moved that the stand be built on to the present stand, at the north end, and ouilt up hign, and at an angle. His reason was tnat in future the stewards' stand would have to be extended, and it would be extended towards the entrance gate. Mr. Richards said he was opposed both to the. amendment and the motion- Ho said he would wish Mr. Porritt to withdraw his amendment and let them consider tho south site first. He was perfectly happy to abide bj tho choice and was particularly pleased to see such a large attendance there tiiat afternoon, in speaking i-o tin motion, Mr. Richards said that it had been said that an adverse vote on -tnii question would be tantamount to a vote of no-confidence in the executive; but that was not so; they were not a party government. Mr. J. D. Healy rose to a point of order. He considered that there wat no question of executive versus general committee.

Mr. Richards continued that the firsc consideration was the aspect. Ik thought every cue would say that from the north-east to tho north-west was where tho most disagreeable weathei c.imo. No farmer would make his siiods face the north-west, in addition the sun would shino in people's facet-: and it would be difficult,to get a fail view of tho ring. He considered thai 'tho architectural aspect in favour oi the southern site had boen exaggerated. On the question of access, lie diti not think this site would be particularly better than any other place. The question of space for a lean-to was ol little importance, as there was room everywhere except in the site mentioned by Mr. Porritt. As for carting timber, he reminded his hearers thai tney were not building for one jeai only, but for many years. This point had certainly bean exaggerated. Mr. Dingle referred humorously to the, fact, that Mr. Richards had no stand' at all, and could not name a site. If tho motion was lost, another site would go down by a much biggei majority. Mr. J. D. Healy seconded the jafnondmeut pro forma, but Air. Porritl consented to withdraw it. j i Mr. R. McKi'Monson, who had not been present when tho (amendment was first moved, then moved an amendment similar to Mr. Porritt's, and the Chairman accepted this. He was very strongly against blocking up the southern portion of the ground. Mr. R. Masters seconded the amendment. He endorsed Mr. Richardb' romarks as to the prevailing rain and wind. People would certainly not come to the Show on a rainy day, if they knew there was no shelter foi thorn. Another matter was the booth that was placed last year, where thej now proposed to put* a stand:'Where were they going to put that booth J From the point of view of sports, football, etc., the amendment provided the most suitable site.

The President objected to the form of the amendment, and it was altered so as to provide, not for an extension of tho members' stand, but for a separate stand placed alongside tho other one at the northern end.

Mr. Dobson also spoke against the motion. It was evident that members wero not in favour of the eastorn site, and therefore it should go on the A\estern, where everyone could get a fair view of the sports, jumping competitions, football, and the grand parade. Mr. T. Webb hotly contested the amendment, he was "straight out in favour of the site selected by the executive.

Mr. E. Jackson also supported the motion.

Mr. Porritt spoke in favour of the amendment, saying that the members must not disregard the impending necessity for extending the oval. Tin's could be done only at the soutli end. Mr. Bucld favoured the amendment, saying there was plenty of room for the stand at the north'end of the present one. Mr. Osmond contended that no onf could honestly say which stand would bo the best revenue producer, so that argument was of little value. They had to give the occupants of the stand the best possible view of the oval, and protection against the weather. The site suggested by the amendment would do this best, and the south end failed in both respects. He averred that southerly weather in summer was invariably dry.

Mr. Dingle, speaking to the amendment, urged members to remember that in a very few years tho members' stand must be fereatlv enlarged, possibly to hold 4000 or 5000 people. How could that be done if the public stand wore built up against the present one? Those who said there was plenty of room for the public stand northward of the present one were talking "toni-mv-rot."

Mr. Geo. Sangster, who said he had had much to do with the laying out of the grounds originally, s'nid there wore only two available sites—at tho north end, near the cattle pens, and on the selected site. He favoured the latter.

Mr. 0. Jackson said the Rncing Club bad proved the impracticability of building a site that would keep out all weathers. There, was no room for n_ stand on Mr. Morison's suggested sitc._ which was also too close to the publican's booth.

Mr. -T. D. Healy (the architect, and a. member of the executive) contended that the extension of the members' stand must be in a northerly direction, for to build it at the southern end would necessitate excavating high ground, which was mute l{ natural grandstand. He assured members there was insufficient room lor the new stand at the northern end. Mr. R.. Harkness supported the amendment, and said the oval, when extended, must extend southwards, and tho suggested stand at the south end would be in the way. Mr. Linn suggested that the people's stand could go on the si'e suggested by tho amendment, and afterwards be included in the members' st"".d, if '•equi'-ed. The President, replying, laid it down that the oval Mould he extended towards tho oast, north and south,

bur mnsitv eastward, and then it U--...M ho nnsnible to have two football grounds, one running north, and south, and ono east and west. Either stand could then be used. Members must look ahead in the provision of stands for very large attendances—they might think him too optimistic if he ventured to name the numbers—for this would be the only spring shownow in Central Taranaki. and in th£ centre of a growing district, which would five them more and n:oro members, who would need stand accommodation. Further stands would have to be erected in the future, and the nthev suggested -sites could then be used. butTtbe best site for tho new st-vd was the southern -n». Tho amendment was put, and lost by 15 votes to 14, and a further amendment bv Messrs. Porritt nnd Harkness, to'erect the stand to the south of the prespnt one, was defeated by 18 votes to 11. Tho motion was then put and carried. . . ~ Following is the division list on Mr Kirkwood's resolution to erect the new rrnudst-md at tb« south end of the oval:—Ayes: Kirkwood, Healy, Dinele. Walker, Webb. Srvngster. Bro--Vlcbank. C. Jpnk«m. E. .Taction. Hobbs, Malone, J. Stewart, A. Stewart Linn. Kelleher. Noes: P^dersen. Tones. Osmond. Shotter, Morison, Budd Masters, Belcher. PorriK, Glas--mw. Richards, Harkness, Watkms, Dobson.