ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 4 September 1909, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(Bv CnMnn-H \r,r)

. : wero. ; !exr^t«d;tp-giye : Swifts a !gameV,-)aft^'.^|ek,;\biiiir/conteary-'; ( tqi'expoeta-' ;tiqh3'--'the. side.' failed.'lamentably;'...if ; ':"orie ; excepts Bethelll,;aricV'VOlidnall'-.■.(in';goal). ■ : ,..In fact/.;it v may..be. :i .said that-hut -for' Oldnall,: .Swifts vwp'uld hi^vp ! won.! by five goals;instead ;'of:twp;-vOhe save'.from .a'shot'/from': Scott .■vras°ns brilliant .'as:.'the 'shot-fras. good, for :}i, ;wfl'S..- a'real: hot ishpt; riirbt ,• into .the ■ topc'orne.r.'jof the -goal."-.'Another 'good':save was; iinade'fight.,of| iPye-Smith's 'head.. ; ; .Bethell ; ■was:in'-very 'good. forni;at left'. and .had : he-reqeived^more.'support; tho Swifts-'would not' have .won. qnito so easily.';.:;. His' habitkof i appealing :iiq- should;-,, endeavour : to ■Perlcs" : h'adXsoyeral,';go'qdi- chances Vat'eontre-'j ■hfllf,-'.:bW/was-'.far-.t6q-Tslow.;f ; 'Barry ! ; is'.-'no | ;halt-back,',and..should ',b.pVroturned.. to the' ifbrwnfd iinb. and fu'l-i ■backs'arc.very 1 off'this season. , :!' Duignan.was the bettor, of .tho two.. It was in the forward line,/however, •' that i,the were .jdis-'i ■apppioingV , ]:''Therftvwis''-Bp/.'pre'ttj. I cbinbiiKi- ! .tioiii'>or : :-indqed. any: cdmb'ination , shown-at , all./; Occasionally'Duncan- did ~Tspme } nico .footwork, ;but - otherwise'/ ho did not 'show! up; niuohi-'- Miller has' a'lot of pace,':.but ■•■'■; ho control,over the ball.: An old Swifte' forward/ ! Arthm' '"but/' was 5 : given 'few/'opportunities;.; of; : /distinguishing, ■him'solf;';-'/ ■ /y^';v":/' y,;i. k'- ; ' : -'''' } *::(' : "-

;? Turning to;tho Swifta it irtay!: bo said' ■ttat vM; : -W.'whqlo:.thoy'..p!ayed , '. well ;'.'■'the'half-■ back liiic'wasVvery. good, ;'an'd v with-a:. good middlc-liue any sides' is a strong one, .Korschberg ;pliyod;..liis"'usual solid Vgarne, -.while : Graves': arid'. Guise .'did !-their Vsfiaio'-' without faults!.; Graves.V witlra/; little morio.. accuracy in placinEtheballjjshoulditurn put 'a; clever centrc-lialf. ■ ■ J. : Pye-Smith was'assafo'and determined 'as evev;at fullrbackj aiid on his play the past few; .weeks" well earned, .his place'!m'tW'! , tcpa. , the previous .wepki but sadly, needs training. It was ■aVgood':movo/6n' the'Vpart- of;;'the Swifts substituting P; Pye-Smithand Sparjow for Twohill and' Marshall' , in; the forward luio, which; was 'considerably, frightened by. the ■ alteration".": -' Sparrow:' is", a" 1 ' handy '," toail neAr,'goalr.any. 'time, but is inclined to be' selfish.' '/He also'got 6ffVsid,q fat ''too niuch, which''compjnint' has , also to be laid. eg'ainst typssoy..-. Scottj ijvas' in go.t>d '/form, ibis shoots ing : 'aaid' : fcKitffqrk : being cxcollont. '■;Saiidofe profcrs. passink uimidTfield-to .''streaking!'- up'Ttlip iva? clearly 'ofi-sido iqr Sjvifts' first goal, vboirig: almost; alongside the -'post;-, and smilingly admittcfl ho was off-sido.. Hut tho rofefee (Mr. W. Wwd) decided otlierwi3e.' ■:'■ IV is understood jthat' tho Association'has- arranged for a boys' team to ■ plaj.Wellington on gopteirtber 15/. If this is , correct : it.behbVea •Messrsimd;compa|iy: to/get-.tovbusiricss for the taatch rigHV'ewey.;.-,'- , ':.. , . 1 '"-'.''-- ,, .'•■•■:'■. - ! ,, :, . i ,- J ' ■;-■■■ "Witn respect to the. serious that has arisen between ;tho Football Association and players, many of :whoni, contrary to tho association's orders, refused to rosicn from the Players' .Union, which, is backcclby the 'General federation .■: of '• Tf ades - Unions, Mr. A. Henderson, M,P., phairman of tha Labour party,'has proposed arbitration.'The Players'; Union welcomes -the but the -'as-' sociatiqn-declines, .'considering,it too Into." The above is! the text of a cablp messago in The Dominion last, Thursday. ; '~ ' :;:; ■' ' The intrusion of ,trad« 3 uuionism in orpanised.sport 'is ; a' : niatter' f affording food for. 'same , 'reflection.',:' Iho Pkiors'- tlnioa «".»'

recently-constituted organisation, comprising, about UOO members, its policy being,- aniong other things:— • ,■■ '

(1) To.promote and protect tho t .interests of the members by endeavouring to come to amicable arrangements with the governing football authorities with a view to

.abolishing all restrictions 'which affect, the social, and -financial positions .of;, players,' '-'.and to-safeguard their rights at all times. (2) So far as tho law allows to proyido legal adSyico! aud legal assistance when • necessary in any action or proceeding in connection with .professional engagements. of?.playerswho are members of tho union or matters arising therefrom,' : including claima,' .;for compensation under the Workmen's Com- ■ ponsation Act, .1906, recovery,,, ,bi' wages due, and breaches of; contract; and to enter into arrangements and.undertakings, with 'clubs or combinations of clubs -for. tho pur-. pose of facilitating the : objects 'of tho \ union, and to, contract with clubs, or. com- ■ binations of clubs'to ensure th,o members of the union receiving the benefits-of tho ; Workriion's.Compensation Act, ,1906,.:'. . < (3) To _assist,members'who are on the.trans-; ' fer list or disongaged' or. desirous of changing clubs'in securing fresh'engage'ments, and .for th|s. object to keep a list .of members, with, particulars of their playing positions, the clubs they have played '.for,-, and other information necessary ■ for ; tho; purpose Tief ore mentioned. :■ , . ';'" (4) To obtain recognition , by, : and representatioii.on -the Football Association, with a view to bringiiig before the proper authori-' .ties the 'gribyances of its members. ■.'•■'. (5) To provide' temporary financial assistance ' .for any member who may, in the opinion . : of the. Committee of Management, be in need of,the same, or to the wifo, children, ', or ;other:/relative of any .member , -in:'the ■'event of his death. . v , ~ ■■ • ... ! (6| Gpneraliy to regulate ,- tho ; relations be- ' . 'tween!; professional football players and; : ."''their': employers,-'and to do all things which .itho pommitteo of ; Manogemont - for the J 'time-'.being shall consider helpful or. for 1' the advancement and wolf are of its • mem- ] '. borsi as. such. ...<;. ■' ' ''■' ' - '■:''.':■

■ It was generally agreed at the' time that' as, a species of provident benefit institution .the union-had a sphere:of usefulness. But, unfortunately,,it had for its secretary an in-; dividual who was apparently "an odd mis-; turo 6£ small shrewdness 1 and'simple credulity,", as was evidenced by the following let-, tor,'. addressed ■to a 'playor, which, ■ literally produced, found .■its' way ; into: the. columns of the "Athletip ; Nows":t- . !■. :;'. ■'■.'.The op l pqrturiity has now arrived' for conccrt«l action and endeavouring. to /smash the Union •tlio. F. A.'have overstepped ; the 'mark and placed -US; in. ii "better-position for 'striking a decisive 'blow: for,,independence .than ever i?p, .were , .before,, for. ;theif. action, relieves: us from any resrKmsibffity.with regard *to our cj'ubs,7ipr ; ,,t'he...facts, will then T>o■ that/wo 'are, quite, prepared to play for the ,cluhs; but the.F.A. won't lot us, theitfore ' tho clubs ..liave ;pp claim'Jo'r damages. against tlio players 'as they' \vould hayo j.had if, w>: had gone , on.VstrikO'at: any ' time in.tiio future even when tlio Union was strong. Now there are- ono .or.;tTro of the: best 'team's in'tho bountiy ivlib. wieh,tq ; stand pu|;, : tbisia glori; pus news , and means-success, for.if wb liavc a few.-tcamis. qf class .standing out the. whole football .ivprld is at a standstill,: and in mj opinion ©verj'thin'R is ■'in dur.ihands,.we will work with tho , clubs 'and I ehalllndt bo ,a bif surprised. if this 'docsln'ot. moan' tho .parting of tho ways and'thq finest clubs taking mat 'ters. in ,l fheir-own{hands. .As I say it. is. f glorious opportunity,7-wp must-hot in.iss it ; or professionals', are'for ever dpom&di- The P.'A. think..that .playbra".mil weakly submit •I'don't wo have waited pur.chanco it has : ar rived.aftd we must decide once and for evei whether .'the,: professional player., is to ', .'man' or , a puppet .in the lja'nds of ,tho. F.A can.for us,by seeing or.writinj ,bthera...i'WiU.;giyo-notice of ,■' meeting , ii London•'papers:' ■..■ .■'■ ':■■! :\\'^:-.:--'[?^ ! '■'■*

■'JTho • letter.' (siysV ; ''Tityrus,' , . of.". tho 'Athletic', News' , ) is the outpouring. of /'a fanatical ■ trade v/unioriist; "who „■ utterly ..disr«gards!;.;th'e "fact" , , that; tho"Vast' majority; ;pf his'members are, .now icceiving £4iaTwcek aU;tiiS.;rear J Wqund^iand3hat\if' ;^horc, i 'ar(j' any tjie.pear.'future that;maJority.Vil! ! r'6oeive.infinitely less;'-in;.wages■ a: small ;pcfcentagb irifinitely more. , The' greatest of tho greatest number should: bo tho'watchword -'of , , thePlayorsV'Union..;. On ..the...contrary the 'glorious. opportunity'. :is":intended.! for tho .foW.Vi;'■'';;■•: I': I:' , '. T' . ■:"■>']• :*' : \it- '.'■■'.. '■■-' "'-■■■■;,; ; hr''Lot mo.vimplore'playors'.tp-bbwaroof .thw shrewdness;', aiid, simple., /.credulity, (advises'"Tityrus'!)'./Ho and his coadj\!tqr,B have, nothinc to rlos'o..:. :They; havo r finished as. football.' plairers; i .They: qro siispc.nd«l. : .an'd are'npt rocognised'ljecdusp of;jjhbir;opeii'.'de-fiancp-of ■.thq'.P.A;';; I ;wquld; warn'.players not V to ; 'attpnd any ; . meetings thoOiaine of .the'-Pl&ypra' 'Union.' •/'Sensible players,' who', vhlue 'thojr suminoi , . wages;- and futuro' security, ; ;iri!l notify that thoy have ceased:' : to be members of tho -union on or bef oro -Thursday/iicxt, '■. July; 1 ,'-■.'. Tho, Football Asso6iatipix : 'havo : refused- to. recognise , the union V.and. they; cannot J allow,;ineh who are registered, .with, -them to;-;remain- the members .of -a'" body which ! they■ ; .'do not. officiajlx 'sanction. / The M.O.C.'dqndt allow, cricketers to" do'exactly ,bb they Hke: : Tho Jockey Chibi^e."^^.^^^ , Swiniming. A'ssopiatioii,' and other governing bodies control, .their ..professionals.. Why - the footballer, /should be :an-cxception : to.overy 'rule ; passes : . all -"comprehension." .'. ' ■' . '

■: ■''There are'.Teports-^wcll'founded,; actions, being''taken-at law to test tho positions .of •players,-.the:validity of agreoments ;with s plubs,'and oven.the powers of the: Football.■■. Association';:'(continues- i'.'Tityrus"). : l heard a bar'rister-at-law'.talking at'large in a railway. carriage, the. other day.. He evidently Anticipates a" very , :busy : ; tiiho'•■ and;incidentyiy.';Some feesr-fot .r,tliink:.vmy ' learned friend' has .not grasped; the' real : crus of. tho relative positions. of tho Fpotball'-Ass'ociatjpn and the ■union]; ana the conditions of. seryicp impo'sedTT-and ;prbpcrly.imposed, on footballers !who,-;v 'voluntarily :.' become.:'professionals''v ■■V .The Football '■" Association : demands ■ "■' that ■players: shall'resign from' the: union. /Tliere is.nofprofessipaajisin-in ■ New Zealaad,'.nor, let'us assure'oursblyes,; will there >vcr.he;