LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

■_,-____. __r______>QXj_j___,TEßS Qu J.-**-.*-. ON. STILL LEFT EF SUSPENSE. . ; A special general meeting of the 'Auckland Rugby League was held last night, Mtr. Barry Brigham in the chair. The chairman explained that tbe object of the meeting was to consider a motion, of which he had given notice, to rescind a resolution carried a fortnight ago instructing tbe Auckland In .ague's delegate to move that the headquarters of the New Zealand League b<> moved to a more central position, ni-mely, at Wellington. The mover said his object in reopening the matter was to give delegates an opportunity of consulting their clubs. He felt that the resolution had been brought forward and carried on the spur of the. moment. Apart from this, however, he was of opinio;--! that at the present time Wellington, a-> a League centre, did not have tihe ofincials to efficiently control the Dominion headquarters. If they went to Wellington, the selection of the New Zealaiad teams would be controlled from that irrrentre, and Auckland might not receive the attention that was due to it in vif w of the fact that tho cream of the play« rs were here. If the. time did come when. Wellington could prove itself strong enough as a League centre to effectively control the Northern Union game of New Zealand, he would readily contsent to a Temoval of headquarters, i but this, he felt convinced, would not co.ae about for some time. .'Air. McDonald (Ponsonby) seconded tbe motion, and his fellow delegates mdi cated that their clubs had instructed them to vote in favour of the rescinding of the resolution. The North Shore delegates made a similar a-inouncemerrt. Mr. Phelan (City Rovers) addressed f"be meeting as mover of the resolution 'tf-hieh suggested the removal of headquarters. He said that only one side of the question had been put to the clubs. Personally, he considered that Auckland was entitled to the headquarters as matters were at present; but- on the other hand he felt that outside leagues should be given an opportunity of voicing their opinions as to where headquarters should be. That was bis sole purpose in moving the resolution, with the object of instructing the Auckland League's delegate, to bring the matter 'before the New Zealand League. In any case that could not be done until the next annnal m-eeting. and then the proposal would be given length}- consideration. If the league, of New Zealand, through their delegates, decided that Aucklaund was still the best centre for headquarters, well and good. Tn conI elnsio-B the speaker strongly deprecated outsidf? suggestions that he and the supporten*! of his resolution had been p romp-fed by revolutionary motives. Mr. "Hunt (secretary) thought that j Auckl-uid should not expect undue consideraiion so far as Dominion control was cioncerned. If headquarters were, in a. more central position delegates could |go there direct from their leagues, say, once every three months. The nominee delegate system gave undue sway to Auckland interests. Mr. Blakey (Newton) suggested that Auckland, being the. only centre which was si tceerss-ully fighting the opposition of the R.ugby Union, was the proper place for b-.adquarters. Mr.. Carlaw (Ponsonby) said that no other centre would be strong enough to assume control for at least two years. M-n. Jackson (Northcote) expressed the opinion that the interests of the j game in New Zealand might be advanced if the -headquarters went to one of tiie other centres, and helped to build it ulp, as the Auckland centre had been built up. .-ir. Young (North Shore) moved that the matter be deferred, but .he. chairman rnled the. amendment onto; order. Mr. McDonald: This special meeting miast decide for or against the chair roan's motion. Let us wait till Wellington can run its own little league a3 well as Auckland has done before we talk -about, sending the headquairtcrs fihere. If the Auckland League was to drop out to-morrow the Northern Union game in New Zealand would die. Let us see, a-so, that we don't allow personali-<t-as to unduly influence us. Air. Harker (Rotorua League) said he had received a telegram from his league, inetwHcting him to vote, for the T^scinding oi tho resolution, which action would be aj*-air-st -hia personal convictions. He mowd that the debate be adjourned for a fortnight. On a division the amendment -was carried by 13 votes to 12.