THE RUGBY LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 62, 15 March 1922, Page 8

THE RUGBY LEAGUE.

POSITION IN DOMINION. LAST YEAR'S FIGURES. Id view of the forthcoming visit of a delegation of League officials from New South Wales, negotiations for which have now been almost completed, a summary of reports from the Provincial Leagues in New Zealand has been made out hy Mr. O. Carlaw, secretary of the New Zealand League, which sets out in an admirably concise form the available receipts and the expenditure for last year, assets and liabilities, treatment of sate receipts, list of grounds at each centre, number of grade competitions, number of teams Id each grade, and nlso the number of players. This report will be placed l.c-fore ttie* visiting delegation for their inspection and comment, and a tour of | the Dominion will Iheu be made, inter-1 viewing the controlling body at each ilif-] ferent League ceutre with regard to its positon, together with all requirements for the establishment of the League code upon a sound and solid foundation. THE AUCKLAND POSITION. The position in Auckland, as outlined in this summary, is a proof, if further proof were needed, that the code in this centre i.-' pas; the stage o£ being a promising youngHter, but has now reached man's estate. Itecelpts in IDUI were £2;i(>S 11.1, expenditure was £2041 12/10, liabilities were nil. and (lie assets were very conservatively flxed at i:W00, this being the aViual capital expenditure tuot the value) on Cariaw lark. Concerning gate receipts, Carlaw Park is the only ground on which a charge can be made, except occasionaly on he Municipal of the Domain, are not revenue producing. The playing areas used last year are set out ac Carlaw lark, belonging fo the League; Victoria Park, Domain, -North Shore, Grey Lynn ami Kllerslie, all Municipal grounds; and private grounds at Nortiicote, Otahuhu, Richmond. Mangere, Takapuua, Kingsland and l'olnt Chevalier. An interesting footnote Us to the etfei-t that the Auckland League requires about 125 grounds to accommodate 100 teams. There were eight grades:—Senior, second, third, fourth, afth, bixth, sixth B, and Senior Cadets. There were eight grades and 83 teams, with about 1400. players. They were distributed at follo\^i —Senior (.seven teams), second (7), third (W), fourth (15), fifth (15j, sixth (10), sixth 15 (IS), Seuior Cadets (6). SOUTH AUCKLAND. The position in South Auckland was: Receipts £320, expenses £300, liabilities nil, assets nil. All grounds municipally owned, and only occasionally could a charge be made. Grounds were at Huntly, Taupiri, Xgaruawahia, Cambridge, Seddon lark (Hamilton), but were not available everyijaturday. Gronuds required, two at CainTSridge and four at Hamilton. Players numbered 4uo. tirades Senior (1U teams!, second (10), third (9), and also schoolboys at Loner Walkato. ' WEST COAST. On the West Coast matters are very promising. Receipts were £225 17/1, expenses were £114 :! 11, liabilities £12. and assets £81 13 3. Gate receipts in Oreymouth go to local centre, and in outside towns the local club reraln them. AH grounds where the game Iα played on the Coast were either privately or municipally owned: no rent was chargpd, but they were nut always available, as other sports bodies had the use of them. A ground of their own was required at Greymouth. The teams numbered 14, ana players about 200. The grades were: Senior (4 teams), second (6), fourth (4). * ' CANTERBURY. Canterbury was next to Auckland -In importance, but Judging by later information from the West Coast, it will soon have a lusty brother over there. The position in Canterbury Iβ set out as under:—Receipts. £413 17/2; expenses, £409 1/5. Neither aseets nor liabilities were available, but are stated to be practically nil. Gate receipts* go to the local centre, but a charge is only pern lrted On six days of the year. Four municipal grounds are used at a rent of £4 each per season, and 14 grounds are required to accommodate about 430 players. They are graded into senior (4 teamsi, second (.S), :hird (8), fourth (5), and sixth (6). WELLINGTON. Neither receipts nor expenses, assets nor liabilities were available from Wellinjjton, but the whole turnover was estimated not to exceed , £300. Mention Is made of progressive movements in this home of Ruzby, hut these are not available yet for publication. The number of players is set at '-00, divided into seniors (4 teams), juniors (10), and thirds (6).