ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 13

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. MAORIS AND THE LEAGUE BAIT, MR, PARATA'S OPINION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Palmerston, Juno 2. Mr. T. AV. Tarata, president of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, and promoter of the amateur Maori team which did so well in Australia last year, was interviewed at Palmerston to-day respecting the refusal of the Rugby Union to allow his team to visit England, and (ho holding over of permission for it to tour the North Island this year. Mr. Parata found the great bulk of the money necessary for the Australian tour last year, and at present he stands .£SOO out of pocket on tho trip, but he expects that sum to be reduced to .£250 when certain unions, which havo not yet settled up, do so. He is very anxious to keep the leading Maori players within tho amateur ranks, and ho points out that nearly all the players in tho first professional team to go to Australia were procured from the Bay of Plenty. They have sinco applied for reinstatement as amateurs, on tho ground that they did not realise what they wore doing, but this has been refused, and they do not now play football. The League, however, is active in endeavouring to secure a strong footing in the Bay of Plenty, and restore them to football, as well as to make a fruitful recruiting ground for the professional game in Australia. There are fifty teams playing in tho new Bay of Plenty Union, thirty of these being seniors. This union was forced out of the Auckland Union by the formation of tho South Auckland Union, and can no longer rely on the Auckland matches which they formerly enjoyed. This is a source of danger, as the League is always at work pointing out to players tho advantage of playing the professional game. Practically all members of last year's Maori team have been approached.with inducements to join tho League, but have refused. Mr. Parata considers it of importance that the New Zealand Union should place no obstacles in the way of tho contemplated North I* laud four of the Maori team. It will be run on the same linos as ordinary amateur representative tours. Mr. Parata aud others wjll financo it, and any surplus over actual expenses will bo devoted to some legitimate Maori object, while tho New Zealand Union will be furnished with full accounts of the tour. Tho programme suggested is:—Hawkc's Bay, July 22; Poverty Bay, July 29; Bay of Plenty, August 2; Auckland, August 5; Taranalci, August 9; AVanganui, August 12; Manawatu-Horowhenua, August 16; Wellington, August 19; and AA'airarapa, August 23. Some of these dates have already been accepted by the unions named, and others are considering them. Mr. Parata only awaits tho assent of the New Zealand Union to complete arrangements. Ho is now going round selecting his men. MELROSE CLUB. Tho Melrose seniors will be weakened in their match against Southern to-day, owing to the absence of their full-back— W. Marshall—who, while training in tho gymnasium on Tuesday night, strained tho tendons of his hand. Ho is likely to be a spectator for two or three weeks. COLLEGES-AUCKLAND AND HERE. Tho Auckland University Rugby football team arrives by the Main Trunk to-' day, and will bo entertained at a dinner in tho Hotel AA'indsor this evening by the Victoria College Football Club.' On Monday morning at 9 o'clock nt the Athletic Pnrk tho teams will meet to try conclusions. I