ASSOCIATION TOURS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 4 May 1929, Page 17

ASSOCIATION TOURS

QUESTION OF FINANCE

SCHOOLBOYS .FOR AUSTRALIA

One of (he most important subjects brought up for discussion at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association last night was that of overseas tours both to and from New Zealand. Various proposals were advanced and fully considered, but with the association's funds in their present low . state it was found necessary in most cases to reject the idea of embarking on any tour in the near future, with the possible exception oi a return visit by the schoolboy representatives to Australia.

When seconding the adoption of the annual report, Mr. M. J. Hayivard (Wellington) slated that ho \yas Hot in favour of an Australian side touring Js'cw Zoaliiud this season, but ho would strongly support a British team'being iuvitcil out as soonas possible. A British team would show Xew Zealanders how Soccer should be played and would do an immense amount of good in establishing the game in this country. lie considered that every opportunity should be taken of awakening interest in the tour at. Home. Mr. A. Vmney remarked that Mr. Hayward evidently did not realise the amount of snade work that had been put in with regard to an English tour. No opportunity had been lost of trying to awaken interest among prominent football men of the Old Country. The president of a Scottish League team had recently toured New Zealand, and lie had been approached with a view to having a professional player released for a tour of New Zealand, the idea being to induce other clubs to do likewise. He was afraid, however, that the cost of a tour from England was prohibitive, and, as an alternative, he suggested• that an attempt lie made to secure "some games with the next British team to tour. Australia. Later in the evening ;i remit was before the meeting from the South Canterbury Association suggesting that if an Australian team were invited over this season its tour he conlined to the North Island, where the necessary guarantors would also be found. The support, accorded the game ut Tiuiaru was not such as to justify a team visiting that centre. -Mr. Hydcr (Auckland) supported the remit -v the count of finance.. -Mr. Hayward (Wellington) favoured the tour embracing the whole of Xew Zealand, as it was the association's duty to foster the game as far as possible Mr Campbell (Otago) felt that the tornwould bo oil in any case, so that further discussion was useless. The remit was ucieatcd. Mr. Campbell went on to read replies Ironi the various associations to the \ew Zealand executive's circular regarding the Australian tour, and he remarked that although it was favoured by some associations, others were luke-warm. and some were definitely opposed to it. As an alternative a team could be sent to Australia, in which case the associations- would be required (o find £10 for each man picked trom their district to cover the cost of assembling the team. Mr. Hyder supported (he sending of a team to Australia, but Mr. B. L. Salmon considered it would do the game little good, and his motion that no tour take place was carried.

l'inally the meeting .considered the prospects of a return visit by the schoolboys, the matter being opened by a lettor h-om the Auckland Association suggesting that a schoolboys' tour be undertaken the team to be picked from any associations in the North Island willin- to workin with Auckland. ■ Several speakers agreed that it would be as well to have the team -representative of the whole ol New Zealand, and it was resolved to write to the Auckland Association, commending the association on the enthusiastic attitude it has adopted and suggesting that it get in touch with the Aorth and South Island Schoolboys' Associations with a view to arranging a*tour by a team representative of the whole of New Zealand.