RUGBY Bigger Split For Unions Advocated

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 8

RUGBY Bigger Split For Unions Advocated

(H.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Feb. IS. Many country unions were living on the smell of an oily raj;, claimed Mr D. Ross (North Auckland) at today's meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union Council. Others, he said, led a "Rolls Royce existence.’.’ Mr Ross advocated a more substantial split of profits from matches between provincial sides and international teams. The present division is twothirds to the N.ZJB.U. and onethird to the local union. ‘‘l believe the money might be distributed more equably among unions," said Mr Ross. "The Increase of costa has made a tremendous Impact on country unions. But there has been, no corresponding increase in revenue." He suggested a fund—"say 10 per cent, of tour profits’ —to assist poorer unions. Mr T. H. Pearce (Auckland) said the N.Z.R.U. could well find itself with gross returns of a million pounds from the 1965 and 1966 tours of this country. Then could well be the time to consider some better way of distributing the wealth. Requests For Loans Mr T. C. Morrison, the chairman, said: “At the moment we have loan requests for which We are £50,000 or £60,000 short. If there would be a bigger split of international match profits, we would be taking money that is for the very purpose of fair distribution to unions. “At this stage we should not contemplate chopping the New Zealand Union share of the

Sits— If we do we are affectan equable and fair disution of those profits to the s very country unions which are ' suggested. The time is not great contribution by the I N.Z.R.F.U. in making sports i ground Improvements in New Zealand and the fact the union s did not have the money to meet i all demands were also menl tioned at the meeting. It was reported the union • had an excess of income over ■ expenditure of £2635 for the year ending December 31 last, t Principal income items were ' £8531 profits from matches, . £6895 interest, and £2500 broad- : casting grant. ' On the expenditure side, £4838 > went on grants to schools, etc.; i £4629 on various general expenses; £4632 on meetings. > travelling by members and i selectors and attendance at the International Board, and £1490 on team expenses. Whereas in I 1961 the union bad £145,030 out I on loan to unions, the figure for > the last year was £177,723. “A tremendous figure, said i Mr Morrison. "And there is ■ more to go yet.’’ Mr D. K. Ross (North Auckland) said he would like shown ■ in future the amount lent to grovide ground improvements icluding accommodation to . local body grounds. ; A loan' of £2OOO to Marl- , borough was approved, as soon t as the money was available. It • was stated this was a most deserving case, Marlborough alt ways having stood on its own r feet, but was now faced with s replacing a condemned stand.