CANVASSING ALL BLACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 125, 29 May 1925, Page 6

CANVASSING ALL BLACKS.

STATEMENT DENIED BY LEAGUE OFFICIALS. Durin" the past couple, of weeks there has been quito a. lot of talk at places where those interested in football gather about, overtures being made to the All Blacks to turn over to the League code, and a cable- from Sydney received a few. days ago hinted that in all probability efforts would be made to. got some of the All Blacks in the Rugby League team which will visit Australia in July. : Any suggestion that overtures are being, or will be, made to All Blacks to induce them to play League is giwn an emphatic denial by' officials of the Rugby League. One prominent member of the New Zealand Council, the controlling body stated this morning the League code was so firmly established in ■ the Dominion now that tliero was no occasion to canvass for players. The fa<-t that Mr. Quinlan, a member of the Australian Board of Control, was at present in New Zealand, had probably caused a suspicion in Rugby "Voter's that he was over, here "poaching." but it was not so, and all that the emissary from Australia was here for was to make arrangements for the approaching tour in the Commonwealth, and definitely fix the terms and conditions of future tours, .also to make himself conversant with the position in New Zealand. In previous years, when Australian teams visited the Dominion, or a Nen Zealand team toured Australia, there was always a certain amount of bickering before terms could be agreed upon. It was to avoid any'difficulties that Mr. Quinlan had come to New Zealand, and as agent for the Board of Control, ■nade satisfactory arrangements with the New Zealand body. "But to soy that All Blacks are being canvassed to get them to play League is absurd,' , remarked the member of the council. "There is ■ every reason to believe that players playing League to day are players the equal of the -All Blacks. 3*he results of the games against the Englishmen last yeai showed that. The Englishmen won tlie ashes in Australia, but lost them t< New Zealand. The League code is or an established footing, so much so that last year ivi Auckland the profit on th< season's working was £1233. You cat take my word for it, the various pro vincial leagues, also the New Zealan; Council, would not entertain any sug gestion that All Black 3 should bi approached with the object of gettin; them to play the League code. "All th. j same," he concluded with a smile, "i i Nepia, Xicholls, Cooke, or one or twi others feel they would like to p'n; i League, I don't think there would b I any trouble in registering them."'