CHANGE OF FRONT

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 155, 2 July 1937, Page 12

CHANGE OF FRONT

AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDEINTERNATIONAL BOARD. i' A reccnt decision of the New Zealand Rugby League to send a representative to England, at the invitation of the English League, to take part in a conference for the creation of an international control board, was deferred by the council last evening onHhe strength of a communication from the Australian Control Board intimating that it was now not in favour of the setting up of the international tribunal. This decision, it was stated, had been approved by the New South Wales management, and had been sent on for ratification of the Queensland League. An amendment, that if the Australian team managers on tour attended the conference they had no authority to bind Australia to any arrangement, had been rejected. The president, Mr. Redwood, said this news was very disappointing, and it seemed that something had happened in Australia to so alter the opinion of the Board of Control which had originated the proposed international board. If the scheme did not have the co-operation of the Australian Board, he felt that the international body would not be useful, and, in fact, probably it would not function at all. Control Friction. Mr. Harold Wilson said he understood that New South Wales and Queensland now wanted to revert to the old system of control, and therefore the Australian Board might be abolished. The chairman remarked that an international board without either Australia or England would be impossible. Mr. Carlaw said the Australian letter on the subject had certainly changed his views about the matter, and it might be a waste of time and money to send a delegate in the circumstances The English authorities were persuaded by Australia to consider the proposal and the former had nothing to gain, but Australia and New Zealand might have derived advantages. That, no doubt, would be the view of England, more so when it received the letter from Australia of which the council had a copy before them. Mr. Doble considered that, irrespective of Australian opinion on the proposal, the council should not take the change lying down, but should get into touch with England and show the authorities that New Zealand desired to co-operate fully in regard to tour programmes and other matters of importance to the welfare of the game. It was resolved to defer the appointment of a delegate pending the receipt of advice from England in reply to an air mail letter suggesting that the conference should be heW, detplte Australian attitude.