Football. RUGBY. [By Dropkick.]

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 6 (Supplement)

Football. RUGBY. [By Dropkick.]

The most commendable step taken by tho Wellington Rugby Union at its' annual meeting was the appointment of o> "oneman selection committee." lv theory and in practice, it has been fairly shown that the duties of selection of a representative team are best done when entrusted to a man who has a freo hand and judgment, and is beyond biuw. Tbe more difficult and onerous the duties, the moro clearly this i* the case. To those who object to the setting up of an autocrat witu arbitrary powers, it may be repliod that tha football community is uot the first rcpijblie to have a dicVator. A dictator is invaluable in cortuin spheres of work. It all depends, of course, on who the dictator is. For instance, the Auckland Rugby Union's first choice of a nolc selector \> as a particularly happy one. Mr. J. Arneil, if he did not create, at all events popularised the one-man selector principle, aud his successor", Mr. F. Murray, seems to be almost as good. Of course, an inefficient man would, unless he fluked, do far more dumago than any consultative committee could do ; and the principle should not bo adopted miles-; the nest material is available. Tho consonsus oi opinion is that Wellington has found the best material in Mr. T. Ellison, and'the uuion's decision nnxl 'appointment are giving general satisfaction. The system therefore starts here under excellent auspices. Tho weakness of the three-men compiittee is that 'each man's influence's reduced to a third, and it generally' happens that in the same pioportiou as the strength of his hand is reduced, his umenableness to olub influence— -particularly city club influences — is increased. In Auckland, tho introduction of the sole selector, tho due recognition of the Rugby talent of the country districts, and the succession of wius of Auckland rep. teams, go hand in hand, and arise, ' as natural consequonces, out of one another. Tho advantages are obvious. Besides, if the sole selector fails, he can be replaced next year, and is therefore no greater incubus than an unsuccessful committee. . Where is there' another union ia these parts that carries, the inoubui of a 66£. per cent, tyx on takings? It is to be hoped that the Athletic Park Company will bo ablo to somo extent to meet tua deputation from tha Rugby Union appointed to wait on it. Classification of unions, according to relative strangtu is, like local government Reform, an excellent thing in theory, but in practice calls forth 1 all sorts of complaints. Dhexe can be no gradiug without dogradiug, and somo of the unions are almost sure .to squeal. Will thero be two grades or three ; will there be four centres and Soutliluud form tho top quintette; and where will Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wanganui, and Hawkes Bay come in? The qucstioi>may bo affacted by the New IZeoland Union's Ranfurly Cup competition, tho conditions of which, as Between the winners of the colony, will havo to be settled. Side by side with the classification project, must be noted the' desire of the Wellington Union to cut down the yearly list of lesser rep. and semi-rep, matches. This, too, is a question that admits of debate. Thero is' nothing in seeing a weak team overwhelmed by a superior onoj tho public, as a rule, won't go to suoh matches ; there is no gato. Admitting all this, tho facts remain that metropolitan football,, has a duty to perform in respect of districts of lesser population. If Rugby in some districts is backward in soiontific metkods, 'such districts should be taught, and they aro best taught on the convincing ground. At one time Auckland City used to boat tho goldflelds regularly by 25 points to nil. It doesn't now. It sometimes gets beaten, and draws from the sub-unions a considerable contingent of players to send South. So there are othei considerations than finance.