FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 214, 3 June 1908, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

THE TOUR OF THE BRITISH TEAM. .-I, .. - ■ • CHARGE FOR ADMISSION. . '' HEWS OF THE. CANTERBURY >.' UNION. ..'|BT: TELBOEArS—rEESS ASSCCIATIOH.J • ■ Chrlstchurch, June 2. 'A special meeting of: the executive of, tho Canterbury Rugby Union was held, this Zoning to consider the following > telegram from tno secretary ;of the Now Zealand Rugby .■/.Union.— v.. ' ;■ " In the event ; of tho test not ! being , played in Dunedin,: can ; your Union ar- . rango to play .tho: test ,'iiaatch' at Lancaster Park on' Saturday next? " > J ; Tho chairman (Mr. Geo. Mason); said that members were probably in possessi6n' of tho facts, and knew that tho. Otago Union had declined 'to take"■jKe'test-match; if .the" adn mission to the ground was.'to .be.two-'shil-lings. Apparently the Otago Union ■ intended sticking to the point, and'the telegram indi- . catod 'that the. New Zealand Union was. not , inclined to concedo the point. The executive •had to look at the matter, not only from its own point of view,-'but from Otago's, and tno New Zealand Union's point;'of. view.. Mr. J. R. Eyans said: he.would he sorry ■ to see the Canterbury: Union . accept ; the match, because the committee of the Canterbury Union.had affirmed the desirableness.of ■ popularising the. game by charging a low eii; trancofee. If the match was..accepted there ■was no doubt that.:-,the. Canterbury Union . would havo to charge 25., and personulhvho ■thought that charge was too high. One shilling was; plenty, to charge-,for admission to the ground, fistra charges for stands and, so. forth could: be paid by ! those who .wmo probably able- to aflord to pay for luxuries. .. The Otago and Canterbury Unions had always , boon friondlj'j'-and ho > would be soTry if tho Canterbury Union was; used as a means of punishing tho Otago Union. To . take tho test match would' be acting, in -a very unfriendly way to their; Otago friends. , ; Mr. F. T. Evans said' he agreed with much • that Mr- J- R.: Evans had,said.. . Right from the beginning the, N ew Zealand Union was wrong in deciding to charge/so much for the 'test matches, and was practically helping tho other side, the • professionals. What was .wanted was 'to get'.as many people - as, possible to attend football matches in order that; they might have an opportunity of correcting possible wrong ideas;that they held,/ regarding the game. " If the Union khew-.the conditions of the te£t'matcn'wbeh;it;iaccepted the match, then .it acted wrongly . t.Tho chairman .said that when he said, that. the Otago Union i know ; about the conditions/ lie meant that those conditions wero general property. When Otago was/working so hard . to . get a test- match there was' only to bo one, and the charge ,■ of. admission jto the ground had been . fixed .at 2s; ' He did riot suppose that such a charge would have betn fixed for a ;South Islands-match. -Evidently tho Otago Union had beenmovedby' tlie emphatic protest of its public,'and rightly so,; for -it. As the Canterbury Union had to, consider its public "it would. bo no > {use the Canterbury Union replying that. it was will-; ing to take the match ;if allowed-to charge one shilling,. becausei'Otago was 'willing\ to tako it on those conditions. .■ . ■• • .Mr.' -Menzies-'said it would . strengthen, Otago's if tho Nefr Zealand Union found that there were ;two unions -opposed'- ■'( to".the. 2s. charge..' : ; Mr. Garrard said'that .he. objected .to the Canterbury Union being made d buffer be-. Ilween tho N.Z. 'Union and'the' Otago Uriioii, though he : considered• that the last-mentioned .. Union ihad.-treated ; the "N.Z. Union unfairly . in delaying'its.,protest, i Th'o'chairman': pointed out .that already arrangements were <in hand; for next Satur--x c3fiy's games, and it Avas questionable whether the • Canterbury Union could; make satisfac- • torv arrangements, for the, test match. !>*' V-Mr; Garrard said, that the arrangements, at . Lancaster Park wbuld \ be very primitive. They could not be otherwise, with such short notice. .. • "After further 'discussion,Mr: Murray > moved \and Mr. Matthews 'seconded the : fol- ■ lowing; motion drafted by the ohaiTOian :-^ : ''That,: whilst'regretting' .the "difficulty v '-'which has' arisen : in-"'connection : ifith .tlio; first; tost< match, -this j committee.-: cannot ■ i ; see.-its way to accept control of the match, -aH yarrangements having been ' made here for-next; Saturday's "games. In addition,!; this .committee! considers 1 that insufficient tinio is- allowed to mako anything like complete'arrangeihents for a test match at Lancaster Park' on the- >. 6th' inat." . ; ~ ~-., The motion was agreed to unanimously. On tho motion-of Messrs.-; J. R. Evaiis-and' P. Menzies, it;.was;further '■•-•■■ ** '/That this committee; i expresses its' opinion that' the price of admission to' ' . tho grounds for each test match should '■• not be more than oho shilling, and hopes that tho v N.Z. Rugby Union-Executive' will seo its way clear to reconsidor its ': decision. in this matter.',';' /" . . Tho telegraphed reply to'tho'N.Z. Union, based on these! resolutions, was as follows:—. , ' 'Committee .regrets ■ being unable' to . arrange .for .the match at '-.such-.' short ; notice; also expresses tho hope, that your executive will reconsider .the decision to : chargc,for admission to grounds' for test' L matclies." '• ■ ; ; v ■ '; • ' " 'Dunedin! .June.2.. The Otfigo- Ilugby Football.. Union hold; a '--special >.meeting this -afternoon- to consider tho. reply from the New Zealand Rugby Foot-1 ball Union with respect to the Dunedin protest against the' prices of admisMon for Saturday's test match. 1 The' telegram received I from - Wellington was as follpws• " The committee adhores to : its pre-' ■ vious decision,, and require .to know .by 6.30 to-night whether your, Union is pre- , pared to go, on .with the; arrangements:!--If not, .tho match must be played else- 1 fvliore. \An average net -return of £400:" is required from each'match to clear the ' cost; of .tho: tour. Unless this is consider- : ably exceeded in tho large centres' the ' . tour is likely to" prove, a Joss. . Last Saturday's gate: provides .only-;the:aver- ' age required. You must. recogiiiseT this . average cannot be maintained ;in the ma-, jonty.of the matches, yet to be played in Bparsely-populated districts." . !:■ ■. After, discussion a motion was carried that, while §till of ' opinion' that the charges proposed by the N.Z.R.U. were unnecessarily. . ; high,, the. committee',agrees, '.in '.viow of jthe :". fact that the preliminary' arrangements 'are' / already made, to take control of tho!first.test' match in.Luncdin! , ~

ENGLAND v. SOUTHLAND. (BY TELEGIUHI.—rr.K3 ASSOCIATION.) . ' \ ; . Invercargill, June 2. . ' -Thero is keen local enthusiasm' over the. football, match England v. Southland. This morning tho Britishers had a light practice, and in the aftornoon'some went Out shooting,: some played, and others amused themselves variously. To-night the team wore given a Mayoral reception:" at. the Town Hall, and - afterwards attended; the boxing' tournament, There is some feeling locally' about tho appointment of Mr. .Duncan,as referee,, and'the matter is still under, 'consideration, 'though : not much time is loft for alteration. ■ t v , The weather is fine and the; ground firm. : 1 ■ Tho'North Island members of the New Zea-' land teanv with the ''exception; of Wallace, who has injured his kneo : and will be unable to play'V left for Dunedin last night. Mitchinsoii has been • selected in. place of Wallace, and left with tho other members of-. the team. . : s A special meeting of the Management Committee of the Now Zealand Rugby Union was held last evening to', further consider the. ■ position as regards the charges for admission to tho first test, match. Jt is understood ■ that .'matters' "haVe ''beeri'';Batiaactonly'''.jff-: . ranged. ' . : "■■ 1 ; Magee will fill _the vacancy, in tbej Wellington representative team 1 caused through Mitchinson being sent to Dunedin to play in fche tesi\match. ~ ; . : *

NORTHERN UNION GAME. THE BASKIVILLE BENEFIT MATCH. The tour of tho "All Black" professional team lias aroused a great deal of interest in Itugby, as it is played by the Northern ,Union League, and on Saturday week We]linutonian* .will have an opportunity of judg-

ing for themselves whether the League game is more, attractive,than tho Rugby.,we know. The' "All ;Black" professionals, arid ; a number of Australians, have- secured the. Athletic Park for Juno 13, and the meeting of two roprMentatiyo. teaiiis'slionldi in it?elf, guarantee a, big'; gate,' but;' in .'-addition, tho feame is being played-as a benefit match for Mrs. Baskiville, mdthfer .of A.: H. Baskiville, the ; organiser and .. secretary ;of the' "All who suddenly at Brisbane • repently.,,, ~86f6r0 commencing; tho .English tour, the late Mr. Baskivillo was an 'cnthuMa'stio 'Rugby jplayer,' having' played Senior football fin both Auckland' and • Wellington, and' whilst .he"-was- a mpmbor of [the local Oriental Glair he published a well-written book on'theNew Zoiland. game.. -The Australians whij aro returning with the New. Zealand team include Messenger, .whoso: famo, .both as' a player, of, the old;' style!of Riigby, and as' an exponent'of .thij Xea'guO ; game, ; is second.'to ■ that -of no' present-day footballer. Other'crick Australian''backs are also making the trip. ■ . The Northern Union game is coming along at a most opportune time for the New Zealand Union, -^vhich'has just called tenders for suggestions'in the. direction of improving the Rugby, game, I the idea being to_ send the suggestions on to , tho.-English Union. They may" learn - something 'from the;' Northern Union style of play, which, according to Australian' critics,' provided a more attractive game , from the 'spectators' point 'of view, than the. older style... . ' !

WELLINGTON V. WANGANUI. !,;The Wellington-Wanganui Rugby football fixture is' "to- be played at ' Newtown Park this afternoon,. The- visitors arrived last night; and, are. quartered at the New Zea-lander-.Hotol'. ', After; the match to-day, the teams' will dine together,; and. in the evening will be; present at the performance of. "The. Prisoner of; .Zerida".at the' Opera House.. ' : Mr. Poter ■ Mackio will bo the referee to- : day. v..- .' ■_ MANAWATU RUGBY UNION. : (BY .IELEGEATIi..—SPEaAt coheespokdent.) ■ . :v\. Palmerston North, Juno 2. The Manawatu Rugby Union has' decided to applyvto New- Zealand' Union for a grant of £30 for encouraging school football. The Palmerston: Club 'is inviting the British team to. a ball on July 8. The Union has decided'to chirge ; as-follows- for- the match 'frith , the British team admission, Is.; members' stand, 2s.'people's stand, Is.

-' : ASSOCIATION FIXTURES. • ■Grounds''have been allotted., arid referees appointed for Saturday's "soccer"'games a,s under:—,- \ . ; ■ • ,' ! ; Senior League—First Division. V Swifts-v. Ramblers, Basin Reserve, H. L. Godber; Wanderers v.' Y.M.C.A., Athletic Park-, W; AuH: Rovers, v;-Diamonds, Newtown Park, B.L. Salmon; Thistle v. Petono, at Petone, Rev. J. D. Russell. ' "'./•■• '. 6 S«»n^.pivißibn. .'Ramblers' v: Rivers 1 ,; No. 4; South' -Mira-mar,-F, .O'Connell; YvM;C.A. v. St. John's •11, No; 3, South'Miramar, A.' Newspri; -Wanderers v. Letter-carriers, .No.. 6, Soiith MiraH. Smith; Diamonds v.. Porirua,. at Porirua, Cocker;. St. John's I v.- Mental. Hospital, i. Hospitalj :E!. Windley; Tba ■vs Wanderers, 1 at-Porirua, v J. Windley; Swifts, a bye.. . •-;•■:■'/ - •..•' • ■, ;• '-• ' Junior'League—First Division.... '. . iDiamonds v: A'iM.C.A., No. 2/ South Miramar, „-T. B.' Aldidgo;- Petono. v. Kaiwarra, •Petono, 3' p.m., : W.', A: Cates; ' Swifts,: a. bye.. ' • ■ '/ ' ~ Second Division. • Y.M.C.A. A v. Swifts, No. 5, South Miramar, W. -A. Press;. St. Paul's v. Y.M.C.A. B, I\o. ; 3- North Miramar, M. Ncivbold"; Petone v. Y.M.C.-A. C, Petohe, 2<p.m.', W. AVCates.;. . ■'■' ■" Third Division. .

Newtown Congregational v. Y.M.C.A- A, Athletic Park. 1.45 p.m.. J» Ferguson; Marist B v. ■ Institute/ No. ',4| South, Miramar, 2 p.m., R. : . M'Lpan ; Ramblers v. South Wellirigt'ori; Nowtown Park, 2'p.m:, A. P." Levin; Rinfeers B. y. Marist, Aj No. 3, South Miramair, 2 plm.',' Y.M.C.A. B' ,v. Swifts,- Nairn 'Street', ,3 p.m., H. S. Bernard; Brooklyn v. Kaiwarra, Nairn Street, 2 '.p.m., H. S- Bernard; St. Paul's v. Rangers A, No. 5, Sbuth Miramar, 2 p.m., F. Bowies'; Diamonds v. Y.M.C.A. C; fiasm Reserve, 2 p.m., R.M'Kay. , •