RUGBY “GATES.”

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1922, Page 5

RUGBY “GATES.”

TARANAKI UNION’S POSITION. DETAILS OF ITS FINANCES. Much criticism has been levelled at the Taranaki Rugby Union during the season, most of the adverse remarks concerning the financial management of football affairs in the province. A reply to these critics was made by the chairman, of the Rugby Union (Mr. Jas. McLeod) at the Tukapa Football Club’s annual smoke concert last night, in the course of which he set out the financial position in connection with both club and representative football matches. “It is the first time these figures have been made public,” said Mr. McLeod, who gave the approximate returns for the season as follows: Gross takings from club games, £1447; total expenditure, £1363’. Details of the expenditure were: Paid back to clubs for travelling expenses, £539 (there were still some small claims to come in); refund to clubs, being 5 per cent, on “gates.” £7O 17s 7d; advertising, £223; rent of grounds. £162: gate-keepers, £93 16s; referees. £93; half cost of management (including secretary’s salary £lOO. stamps, etc.). £148: three-quarters of sundries, £33: a total of £1363. Thus it would be seen that the union had about £7O to come and go on to meet expenses. The union had not made a shilling out of club football, nor did it wish to.

A lot of criticism had been levelled at the union, criticism, he had not replied to before as there was only one time to do that, and that was once u year, and his own club should know the position first. The policy of the Rugby Union had been, and. as far as he was concerned would continue to be. one in which no interest was taken in making a profit and hoarding money, but a policy in which the money would be spent on the players and the public who supported the game. If the town clubs under the provincial scheme of football held their own gates, declared Mr. McLeod, the result would be to make those chibs very wealthy while other clubs, who helped to provide the sport, would be languishing He took the broad view and said that though the footballers provided the means of sport, it was the public the union had to relv on. He believed the fiates would increase by 50 per cent, next vear. which would mean an additional £560 or £6OO while the expenses would not increase. Thus more than 5 per cent, would accrue to clubs. If next season the provincial scheme were abandoned the gates were sure to drop considerably. and the interest aroused during th? last two seasons would be lost. The finances in connection with representative matches were then outlined by Mr. McLeod. For the season the gross takings had amounted to £1247, while the expenditure (exclusive of the southern tour) amounted to £B7l, made up as follows: Rent £129. gate-keepers £34. referees £5. entertainment and hotel expenses for visiting and local teams £lll, cars for teams etc., £42. printing tickets, etc., £65. expenses of th? Wanganui match £39. jerseys, footballs, etc., £54. players’ expenses £172, advertising £7O. half cost of management £l5O. This showed an approximate profit of £376 on representative matches, but the southern topr had cost £615. leaving a. loss of about £ n 4o, or a. loss on the whole season of al tout £lBO. The un : on were more than satisfied with that result, especially when it was considered that the Taranaki team was the only one that went through the South Island and paid all their own expenses. When these return matches were nlayed in 1923 and 1924 the Taranaki Union would take the whole gate, and thus be in a better financial position than ever before in its history.