THE LAWS OF THE GAME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 236, 29 June 1908, Page 9

THE LAWS OF THE GAME.

Mr. Harnett, who roplißd'on behalf of tho. English Union, prefaced his" rc'mark's ; "by Reminding those present tlidt 'it'was' something more than sport that had-lcd-to-tho;-inter-change of-visits. They'were- delighte'd that His Excellency the Governor, the' Rt. Hon.'the Premier, and the Mayor l of "tho City -lind found time to attend .:thftr.function. His Union, always , had ■ beenj vand always-would be, fearless'when it bftca'me necessary to take action to stamp au.t .anything' which would tend to cast a amateur football. It was to be:; fegietted:? thati-tho Scottish and Irish .Unions Jiad. not seen. fit. to assist in sending outjth.o.teaifi. had M in his opinion, done more to. foster..amateur 'football than Mr. Rowland. Hill.-' .;Reforring to Mr. Palliser, tho speaker said that no Union or body could have a .hotter, repre-' sentative. Tho desirableness of -making amendments to the laws of tho game had been 'discussed before he. left "Home. Ho thought that a representative of the colonies would be appointed to tho Board which would doal with tho question. This : was the first occasion on which an official of either the English or tho Welsh Unions had visited Now, Zealand. Ho had been asked to take , back a number of proposed amendments Kto ' tho laws of tho gauio, and ho. could assure them that they would-be put'before "the Home authorities with all tbo forco and : favour at his command. (Applause.) If the Homo' Unions continued to receive the support' of tho Unions over the seas they would liayo nothing to fear from Northern Union football, soccer, or any other., game. , ; ,

OTHER SPEECHES. Mr. R. A. Gibbs, on behalf'of the. Welsh Union, said that his Union had done' its best to have as strong a team as was possible.sent to New Zealand. ' When future-tours'-wero being promoted tho Welsh Union,-wbuld do all 'that was possible to assist the English-Union. His Union had had to deal with the .question of professionalism, which was tli'o- greatest question in sport at the'present, timo;' and if tho authorities in .the colonies also faced it fearlessly amateur football -would', con-, tinuo. to flourish. (Applause.) In proposing tho toast .of the New Zealsfld' Rugby Union, the %yor (Hon. T. W. Hislop) remarked that the peopleof New Zealand had been told lately .oil.-high, auth<k i-ity that they had no horizon; "and'that" thoy thought that' their countfy -ofthe Universe. Upon looking 1 over tlie'rules' of the Union, he had foiHid-\tliat jti.did "riot, claim, tho right to submit proposed rules to.'tno Homo authorities. Tliero wore, therefore, a fow persons in New Zealaud who to subroftmatters affecting them to 1 -peoplo in the Old: Country. (Laughtor.) Tho peoplo of.Aow: Zealand wero greatly indebted to the Homo,authorities for sending out. the. .team, Mr. G. F. C. Campbell,.: President of tho Now Zealand Rugby. Uniofi, said, in/repJy,.' that the 'Union was forftied-seventeen- or oighteon years ago to'fostor Rugby football, eucourago international ;visits, and. >;\ako recommendations'for tlio-improvement of-tho game. Two important questions had-loomed up in Now Zealand—(l) - The "prevention, of tho introduction of pi-ofds'sioiialisM'; alul, (2). tho necessity for amendments being mado to tho laws of tho game. 'did. not think' that there was any finm'cdiatp . danger of tho spread of -professionalism,-for tho simple reason that tho popula&ipu . was not large enough, to make it pay. . A great many peoplo in New Zealand—and he shared their views—wero of opinion ,_that„tho la>vs.-of tho gamo could bo greatly _ impipyod .with,out,in; terforing with tho main principles. It had, licvor been suggested that New Zealand should break away from ! thoHomo'..'union's and play under a..now. .%&do.;V.Such<a mover' mcnt would open tho doors to prbfessiorialism. Tho propor to do was to confer with tho I-lomo authorities with tho object of securing amendments. • Tliero was a greater danger of tho Northern Union gamo being adopted ill Now Zealand as an amateur game than in professional iorm. If

certain, features wore eliminated from the amateur game, Northern : -Union football would never'obtain a strong hold. In making amendments, the interests of the players must bo studied, as well as thoso of tho spectators. --. Any code of laws must mako provision so.that tho players, both forwards and hacks, , may. recover themselves.OOtherr r wise, after tho first fifteen minutes or so the game will resolve itself into a procession, and provo quito uninteresting. (Applause.}- In conclusion, Mr. Campbell referred to the impartiality and orderliness of tho crowd which witnessed, the' contest. .' The health of-, tho .referee, Mr. A. Campbell (of Auckland), was . proposed by Dr. Newman (President of the Wellington Union). In the course of his remarks. Dr.Newman, stated that it was probable New Zealand would . send another team Home within two. years.;, ' Mr. Campbell made a suitable response. I .. After the banquet the teams spent a pleasant hour with tho members of tlie Savage" Club. - ..." .