"LET US FIGHT"

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 112, 11 May 1920, Page 7

"LET US FIGHT"

IN SPORTSMANLIKE WAT. LEAGUE AFEAIRS IN WELUNOTON. GOVEKNTKG BODY'S DISCUSSION. N.Z. COUNCIL MEETS. The discussion that arose at the Council of Management of the New Zealand Rugby Football (League last evening, while a letter from Wellington was ■under consideration, was long; and very interesting. There were two letters, 'but one was confidential and the other asked for assistance. TUie two letters, taken together and read, indicated that Wellington League was 'having a bard fight, and that the days of ite speedy progress have not yet come. The president considered there -was a great deal of food for thought in the letters. He said they bad bad handicaps when they started, out in 1909, but the huge difficulties being put in the way of the Wellington League, together •with the very unfair tactics used, entitled the struggling body in that centre to have support. "lt seems to mc," he said, "that they will not give League players a chance to play in Wellington: When we were in Wellington we saw for ourselves what things were like. We were called then toy a very ugly name by the Mayor of Petone. THEIR TREMENDOUS HEART. "They must 'be players of tremendous heart to carry on under the present conditions. They have even to pass through Rugby gates to reach the grounds they have paid for, and they go and play without even a shed for a dressing-room. lam convinced," the president continued, "that the public down in Wellington are the same as the public here in Auckland, but the public of Wellington is not even given a chance to see our game. "We are not parasites, as we were called down there. We are as good sports and as clean sports as any, and our sport kas good as any. Let us put down the gauntlet. Let us- fight them. If it's fight they want, we can deal with it. I feel that we ought to combat with these people. But we iwill combat in a sportsmanlike manner." The secretary said that tbe Rugby people in Wellington were tremendously afraid of the League cade geting a bold down there, and were putting their whole efforts into keeping out at all costs.

At this tbe president spoke again, saying that they had had a hard struggle in Auckland, but up here the Rugby people had played the game fairly like sports. They had let the public decide, and now the way of the League was easier there was no enmity. He thought Wellington must be helped over the same difficulty through which the whole New Zealand League had passed;

The secretary said the whole deadlock was in the matter of grounds. Wellington was awkwardly situated in this respect, and Rugby bad had most of the playing fields for many years. "Yes," said 'Mr. Pollock, "and hockey and Association bow down to it. They have to pass through Rugby turnstiles to. get to the ground for which they pay. It is preposterous,, to my way of thinking;" It was the unanimous opinion of'the delegates thai 'Wellington must ,be«sisted, but at the same time wnMa/neav-. ment was made upon the balance-sheet from' the se>Sthe*n-) bbjdyL Reference was made to the lasfr fum sent south, and delegates decided te>Ja.ak the Wellington League for a balanceeheet of last season. The memberspresent had a good idea of the iiliiilisllM'.lli the way of the Wellington League,, Jwt they were not altogether convinced fliat the beat possible work had been done in the past. A loan of £30 was authorised as a preliminary, and the secretary instructed to call for a balance-sheet. The feeling of the meeting was -that the Council should direct its attitude according to what this balance-sheet disclosed.

The New South Wales League wanted to know whether the New Zealand body had come to any finality regarding decisions reached at- the Sydney conference during last year's tour in Australia, and, after due consideration of ihe report of the conference, the meeting approved of clauses directly concerning their affairs.

The conference bad decided to ask tbe English Northern Union to change its name to the English Rugby Football League. Delegates submitted that tha had been resolved because the word "Union*' was calculated to confuse. If this were altered the title would be much more clear. The idea was approved.

There was another resolution passed to the effect that no player be permitted to represent two States, or one Dominion and one State, in a season, and that no player be permitted to change from one league to another without direct sanction, or eke he must nave a residential qualification of twelve months. This was also approved. Transfers were granted to Haddon and Oargill, who will probably play in Australia. On the nomination of the Canterbury League, Messrs. C. B. <Hardimrham and R. J. Stirling were elected life (members.