PAID TO PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 122, 24 May 1923, Page 11

PAID TO PLAY

LUCRE FROM THE LEAGUE

MAORI FOOTBALLER'S

ADMISSION,

Among all the applications by players of League football for reinstatement in fcHe Rugby Union game the answers to the question as to whether the applicants had received any money for playing League are invariably in the negative. There was an important exception in an application before the New Zealand Rugby Union Executive last night from a former member of the Maori League tepm which toured Australia last season, William Te Whata, of Tokomaru Bay. The applicant stated that he had repr resented East Coast in 1921, Poverty Bay 1921, Poverty Bay and Hawkes Bay against the Springboks, and that the la°st match he had played was against the Springboks in 1921. He had been four years with the Waima Rugby Club, Tokomaru, To the question, "Have you ever received money?" his reply was, "Yes, £.4 10s a week, a total of £73 JOs. For two months, in Australia £36, and a bonus of £24 (1922), and while with the New Zealand League representatives between 9th September, 1922, and 6th October 1922, the sum of £13 10s." His application concluded: "I realise I made a mistake in. playing League, but I have'left the League, and wish to rejoin my old club or any club." The appeal was "endorsed by the East Coast Union. . "That disposes of the claim to amateur status of League," remarked the chairman, proceeding to quote the rule by which the New Zealand Association had power to suspend or expel any player receiving money or other valuable consideration for his services as a player." Mr. A. C. Kitto: "He has expelled himself. We cannot admit him." On the motion of Messrs. E. Little and Kitto,. the application was refused. "This is the first case wo have had so plainly stated," remarked the, chairman. "It rather disposes of the, 'amateur' status of the League."