FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 50, 27 February 1915, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

The effect which the war has had on tho Rugby football dubs in Christchurch and the prospecte of a slump during the coming sea-ion were discussed at the recent meeting of the Canterbury- Rugby I'nion. The effect had been general throughout tlie big centres in the Dominion, mid it is a well-known (act that Rujrby foohballers form a large proportion of the men who have responded to j the Kmpire's call. In come instances almost the whole of the senior inem(ber3 :in<l a large proportion of juniors have! enlisted, and tliere arc clubs which have practically been cleaned out of active member*. The Rugby Unions are now faced with tho problem of carrying on their competitions with much depleted ranks, or of "crying oil" anything but ja f«'w local games. In introducing the subject at the meeting of the Management Committee the president, Mr. G. H. Mason, said he did not want any decision yet. but wished to give members ample opportunity to fully consider the mutter, and to advise the annual meeting of delegates regarding the programme to be undertaken next winter. The question to be decided first was whether they should push on with their usual programme or curtail it, as wae being done in other places. One thing was fairly certain, the winter was going to be the most critical period of the wai< They were marking time on the other side of the world, waiting for the spring, when there would be a supreme effort. Many of the clubs had had great inroads made in their membership, and they must expect fewer entries for their competitions. They must consider the question of curtailing their programme.