DILATORINESS OF N.S.W. SOCCER AUTHORITIES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 111, 11 May 1923, Page 2

DILATORINESS OF N.S.W. SOCCER AUTHORITIES

AN ULTIMATUM TO BE SENT. Members of the New Zealand Foot ball Association are very far from pleased at the laxity shown by the xVustrahan Football Association in replying to communications and, inquiries dispatched from Wellington as to the ar-' rangements made for the tour of the New Zealand Soccer team through Australia. The secretary, Mr. B. L. Salmon,' stated last night at the association's meeting that members of the New Zealand team would, assemble at Wellington next Thursday afternoon—it had not been found possible to get the team together in time for a match against Wellington on . Saturday—and berths had been pencilled on the" Marama, to sail on .Friday* but, strangely enough, the Australian authorities had been co las and dilatory that they had made no arrangements as to the passage money. The manager of the team, Mr. H Mayer, waxed warm on the subject. The dilatoriness of the Australians, he considered, was a downright insult to th» hew .Zealand 'Council, and, personally, he should make no bones about telling the Australian footballpeople what h« thought about their actions, particularly in view of the manner in which the Australian team had been treated in the Dominion. Mr. A. Bolton suggested that if th» Australian Soccer people did not do something in the matter of fares while yet there was time, guarantor* should come forward and advance the necessary amount. r The secretary remarked that if it cam* to the worst, he would be quite prepared to advance the lot himself. . ; _ Mr. Fordham suggested that the Ur* ion Company should be asked to get in touch with " the delinquents over there, and ask them whether it was their intention that a New Zealand team should travel by the Marama. Mr. Mayer again returned to tha charge against the Australian football people, repeating that their laxity had been actually insulting. Mr. A. Varney, said that it was high time something definite was do-'*, and he suggested that a, cabls should b» sent t6 Australia .-without delay to the eftect that if arrangements as to fares were not made in. a satisfactory manner by Saturday night, the N.Z.F.A. would at once- withdraw the team. Mr. Salmon explained that the whole of the arrangements were in the hand* I ™r-J torey- as secretary'of the New couth Wales Association. Several other members spoke warmly upon the point, and, finally, it was decided to send the following cabled ultimatum :_" Council last night decided if no advice be received re passages by Saturday the. trip will be cancelled." There was some discussion upon the question of the provision of a trainer for the New Zealand team, some doubts being expressed as to whether the Australian Soccer control would willingly meet the expense, as the New Zealand Association had done in' providing a trainer for the Australian team in the Dominion last year. Finally it was decided that the matter should be left with the manager and assistant-manager, with power to act.