FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

.NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The 'Management Committee of the Now Zealand Rugby Union met last night. There were present — Messrs. G. Dixon (chairman), <W. Perry, G. Lusk, H. Kelly,' U. =M. Isaacs, J. K. Loughton, N. Galbraith, and V. Meredith. An interesting point as to professionalism was raised by a letter from the •Nelson Union. Early in the seaKm the •Management Committee of that union invited applications for tho po&itions of gatekeepers at Trafalgar Park at' 5s per day. One of the gatekeepeis appointed was an old Rugby player. He now wanted to play again. Was he a professional, or was he not? If he was, could he be reinstated? For the pasttwo months he had been in receipt of money. After considerable discussion on tho point in question, the meeting decided that if the man played Rugby he must become a professional, but that he might apply for reinstatement in that event. Several members drew attention to the dangerous character of the prctedent that would bo pet if the man wore allowed to play as an amateur without' further ado. A club might engage a player in bucli a po£ition >; and thus make him practically a professional, but an amateur in name.

The Nelson Union, in the simo letter, enquired whether an hon. secretary, who received a bonus, without a promis-c of such reimbursement, became thereby a professional? The Management Committee decided to reply that if such a pei son played football he would become a professional. He could not do both things at the same time. He might also apply for reinstatement. The New Zealand Referees 1 Association forwarded a copy of a circular letter from the Auckland Union to its various affiliated unions, in regard to alterations in the rules of the game. It was decided to inform the Referees' Association that decisions by referees must be given in accordance with the liiwr of the game. Unions had no power to alter the laws of the game. The following letter was drafted : — "We understand that the Auckland local competitions are not being played in accordance with the laws of the game. If this is so, this committee would point out no union affiliated to this, union has power to do so." The Hawkes iJay Union wrote that a player had been disqualified for two years foj" using foul and insulting language to a referee. The committee deckled to ask the Hawkes "Day Union for a copy of the evidence in the case with a view to revising the sentence. Tho Hawkes Bay Union was informed in regard to a native in the Dannevirke Sub-Union, that his term of disqualification could not be reduced as requested. The question whether a union had a right to disqualify a player on the report of spectators was 'discussed in reference to a Zingari player suspended by the Otago Union for striking two players. 'Mr. Kelly moved that the disqualification was not in order, a union having the power to act only on tho report of the referee. It was decided, eventually, to make the disqualification general. ' The resignation of (Mr. F. T. Evans as one of the iSouth Island selectors was accepted. !ilr. S. Wilson was appointed to fill the vacancy.