LEAGUE CLUBS MAY AMALGAMATE; TEMPORARY MEASURE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1940, Page 20

LEAGUE CLUBS MAY AMALGAMATE; TEMPORARY MEASURE

A-special conference of all units of the Auckland Rugby League last evening adopted a resolution to carry on football ■a 6 usual, with the'proviso that, if it was necessary to curtail activities, the League would loyally support any Government action in this direction. The chairman of the Control Board, Mr. G-. Grey Campbell, before dealing with official matters and greeting members, took opportunity to refer* to the loss the game lhad suffered by the death of an esteemed -member of the 'board, Mr. James Rukutai, and the meeting stood as a mark of respect. Mr.. Rukutai, said Mr. Campbell, was an outstanding personality in the football world and it was proposed to 'have a memorial -plaque in the board room. The possible difficulties facing administrators and clubs in the near future, as a result of war conditions, were outlined and discussed at length by the large attendance of officials. Some speakers-.pointed

to the request of Empire authorities that sport should be carried on as", normally as possible, the concensus of opinion .being that, by, providing, .the usual facilities for •play, •• the game would 'be keeping men fit for national emergency. It was revealed that all senior clubs 'had already lost players through enlistments - which had also affected lower grades. A suggestion was that in order to maintain senior standard, the board should consider the amalgamating of'several clubs and have less teams in the major competi-tion,-The chairman said the board realised that something..might have to be done in that way, : but "the matter* could-well be considered first, by the Senior! Club "Officers' Association, any such amalgamation ~to be a war expediency- only.; The position might be that some grade or teams would have to be eliminated for the same reason, but it was too _• early" "yet to say what action would be • taken until/-"clubs had held their annual meetings by the . end of next month and knew their strength Playing policy could. then be formulated. * The necessity of retaining-the competitive spirit and club rivalry, was stressed and an official of the junior management emphasised '.that- conditions!, probably would demand more co-operation between the senior-, and junior : ranks. Mr. Campbell,' in . thanking members for their keen '■ interest- and suggestions, said the discussion,-which included reference to transport restrictions, was valuable and would help the board as well as the clubs at their meetings and in making preparations for the approaching season. All would hope, however, that the war clouds might pass away. In the meantime, the clubs would« liave-tov be ready to face up to-the situation and/ assist the board and the game .generally to carry on. Jt was announced that' the season would start on the. first Saturday in April.