FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 237, 3 October 1908, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

"RUGBY. F. Jackson, the big Cornish forward oi the Anglo-Welsh team, whose doings o: late have been somewhat out of the ordinary, is at present in Dunedin. He is not enamoured of the Northern Union game, and is of the opinion that it will not prove so attractive as its supporters and admirers think. ."I have seen a lot of Northern Union games." remarked Jackson to a southern reporter, j "and the Rugby Union game, if played | well, is far ahead of it. What is required in the Rugby Union game is a i modification of the rules and intelligence | to play it." lv connection with the above, the foi- ; lowing remarks of "Full-Back," which I I publish without comment, *re at least interesting:—"lt has been rumoured that Jackson is out here in the interests i of Northern Unionism. This is farthest from his thoughts; indeed, the big Coririshman's opinion of Northern Union j football is not altogether favourable to the code. Jackson's movements at present are undecided. He purposes spending a week or two in Southland, whither he »oes in the course of a day or two. By that time he anticipates letters irom England which will make, his case of alleged professionalism clear; in fact, Jackson is hopeful of being reinstated, it is well to remember that Jackson has been suspended only pending further hearing of his case, and if he is reinstated New Zealand will oenefit, for Jackson has stated that there is a possibility of his remaining in New Zealand,, and more unlikely things might happen than playing under the banner of the New Zealand Rugby Union." The special meeting of delegates of the New Zealand Union to be held in Wellington on October Sth. promises to be a very lively one. says a Southern writer. The Otago Union's notices of motion contain some rather startling proposals, which, if adopted, will cause a very considerable flutter in the Rugby dove-cot. All the provincial unions are entering into the spirit of the movement with enthusiasm, so that there should be a very full attendance of delegates, and an exceedingly live discussion. The Otago delegates, who will move the revolutionary proposals, will probably be Messrs. J. Hutchison and F. H. Campboll. Mr. Campbell Mill be remembered as the delegate who spoke so strongly at the last annual meeting of the union on the subject of payment of players for loss of time, so that he should have something very interesting to say at the coming meeting. As an example of what we might expect from Mr. Campbell, should he be at the meeting, his remarks at a recent gathering of referees in Dunedin are interesting. On that occasion he said that 'here was no doubt in his mind that the New Zealand Cnion was going to break away from the English Union, aiyl he believed that would be the outcome of tbe meeting next month. He did not think that paying a player for loss of time could be considered professionalism. If they took men away from their work they must pay them. Opinion seems to be strong in Dunedin on this question of payment for loss of time. At the same gathering Mr. H. H. S. White, a well -known referee, said the.t players had themselves to blame for not being paid for loss of time years ago. They had complained about the matter, but had not brought it under the notice of their own clubs. He thought it was a great pity the professional element was coming to New Zealand. He did not think it was the fault of the Otago Rugby Union, but that it was the fault of the players themselves. The Referees' Association, when formed some years ago, approached the Rugby Union for sweaters and boots, which were granted them, and he said if the players had copied the Referees' Association they might have been receiving payment now for loss of time. He hoped that the New Zealand Union would cut the painter from the English Union and have an Australasian Union fonlicd. By paying those who suffer under present conditions the governing body can give them justice, and at the same time can do much to strengthen its position as against professionalism. By refusing it will assuredly lay up much trouble for itself.—"Canterbury Times."