FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 740, 12 February 1910, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

)';■'; THE RTIC.BY, COIsI''ERENCE. : ....) i (By. Tclenraph.—Press 'Association.! ;') ',r ; >. rr^' 'Christchurch, ■ .' A:®? Mason,.'of this city)'.who:was ,c-ne of tho \»w - /ealand;llugby"Uiiib"u's delegates to tho Australasian 'Conferonco «ugby . Uriidns '.which ,met recently' in' Sydney;'rpturned to-day, and/gave a brief interview.onhis arrival'; regarding' the co'nfercnco. , ■-.

• Mr.'Mason'stated that the decision afe, rived ;at, woiild riot-be'riiadd-public 'iintil fho' report/of tho delegates-was/ submitted* lo.tlip ;New . Ze'aknd. Rugby /Union, -arid published "by: them. ,; Tho conference liad proved a : -satisfactory one, and,- tho -'re- : suit of .it;.-'.matters -between." - tlie 'three ' Unions—New South/ . Queensland) I V Zealandr-will he,oii a abetter .rooting tliQn : hitlicrto. ; Tho 'New' Zealand delegates found that: both/the -New-South Wales and Queensland delegates wero very keen., indeed for.' 1 retaining ; the'-' amateur status -of ;•Rugby./footballers - ; aa /fully: as' possible, iri'. their ;resp'ectivo,'.States) , T'he' n'mtter of the alteration .of the -.riilM-■' of the'game,'and that regarding.professiorial-isrii,-.was .'very./fully .corisidered by the: delegates, arid.complete unanimity was arrived at. . ,':'/;';ft - .'.■:. /

'.'Asked' as'./te/the/state) in,'-, which- .'the Rugby, gamp /was. in /Australia, ; Mr.. Mason stated that, .in Both: Now South; Wales and Queonslaud,'• the/Rugby unions found/the pnpositipii/pf tlie' professional.element/very strong, butiiie'- did not think: tlint, 1 that element "was" growing.';/)