AMATEUR RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 169, 12 April 1930, Page 13

AMATEUR RUGBY

Sir,—The management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, by their recent discussions and decisions anent ground admittance charges and broadcasting has shown the public that the good old game of Rugby has practically passed the amateur stage, and is becoming a business. The funds of the New Zealand Rugby Union are mainly obtained from fees contributed by working men and youths, who are styled “amateurs,” who buy their own club uniforms, boots, etc,, and who pay their own car fares, bus fares, etc., when going to the various grounds to play football, and by entrance charges paid by the general public. No professional is allowed to play amateur Rugby in New Zealand, yet, when any little opportunity occurs whereby the management committee can tax the general supporters of the game, they do so with impunity by raising the entrance charges from 50 per cent, to 1000 per cent. , „ . „ Why should a favoured few be allocated ringside seats? Has the union joined up with the vested interests? 1 consider that for all the provincial matches of the British team, 2/- is an ample charge, and 3/- for Test matches. Another big factor is the issue of complimentary tickets. It would be interesting to know how the issue of complimentary tickets is controlled-a-wbo controls—how many are issued per maten, and who are the recipients. I venture to assert that, the amateur players would be staggered should the full particulars be supplied. The players earn the money, nnd are certainly entitled to the information. Do any players receive complimentary tickets?. How much longer are the players to carry on with a dictatorship' lhe general supporters of the game are awaiting the result of the annual meeting, and thereafter will form their own conclusions regardless of newspaper comments.—T am, etc., pLATBR Wellington, April 10.