LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE AUCKLAND LEAGUE. THE ANNUAL KHI'OHT. •Last season was the most, sm ssful financially and from the point ~f view of nt tendance and standard of play that has linen experienced since the inception of the League code in (Auckland in lUO'.i."' sian-s th.- report to he presented al the annual meeting of the Auckland llllgbv League on Wednesday next. The report goes on tn say that five years ago the hunk balance was £11 and tin- lin billtles £Tti. To-day the League had a spori.s ground and a respectable bank balance. There lind been visiis from Australian learns during last season, and a Maori team visited Australia. high: senior and fifty-turn junior teams entered for the compel it ions, and Hie .pialiiy ..I' piny in lb.- senior grade showed much Improvement, many excellent mutches resulting. The junior games were exceedingly Interesting, and no previous season had produced a better exposition of tlie code In these grades than last year. The League recognised the difficult le* the junior* were j labouring under .living to ihe lack of playing arras pear the city, for they had to go much lurth.-r slield lo play I heir matches. The best thanks of the League was ten der.'d t.. these players. The League welcomed the Senior Cadets Into the gatne. and everything would h" done t,, assist and encourage them. Hood work had been .lone l.v the Junior Mann.se iiu-ni Committee, anil ihe standard of play in grades that came under the ronmiillee's jurisdiction showed considerable Improve. nvill. for Ihe lirst time In its hi-l.e-v tiie Northern Colon I'up was taken aivav from Auekhind l.v lliitililtnn. Tile plnv was even thing Hint could be wis-li.-.1. nnd All.-klllllll Were bealen ,„i I heir lneiiis Country Leagues had had a revival. The Suiiih Aiickimid League was on a v.-rv line footing, while the game bud a hold ai Tun r.-uura and I; had I n sinned al It-.io-ua and Waihi. The King Country League had hail n line year. Itega nllng I'arlaw Park, n contra.-i was I let : ,t i 1,,, en.l of Insl sens,,,, f,,r Improve I ments. Involving about £41100. This consisted of top dressing the playing areas, reforming the terraces, fen,-ing. etc. The I last-named had done away with Hie nc-cs- ! slty for a path across Ihe ground, audi the public will now proceed alongside the j roped walk up a gradual eloping ramp to the terraces. The ground, when opened. I would he the best athletic ground in the I>emillion. The League had now ill view the mailer of improving the stand accommodation, ami it would not be long before this was gone into. The ground was now a breathing spn.-e f..r the public ~n other than charge days. The Ileferees' AssucinIlou had Increased their active niembersii;|i to -Iti. It was anticipated that ibis number would be in,reused to Co before the season coiiiiiieu.eil. Itegrel was express.-,I at the resignation of the chairman, Mr .1. Carlaw, owing to 111-henllh. and Ihe credii of tniiting ihe League game where il is to-day mis due to him. In the formation of i"aria w Park he was ine prime mover, and Ir uas through Lis energy that the League had such a ground. The League deehli d last year to light the Park by electricity, and many of the senior .-lul.s look advantage of this for training. The institution of n Wednesday competition had proved satisfaetorv.