DEFINITELY OFF

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 10

DEFINITELY OFF

CHINESE SOCCER TOUR

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION'S

FINANCES.

The Chinese Association football team will;-'npt visit New. Zealand, the New Zealand Council deciding on Thursday to forward a reply to ; ihe Australian, authorities, to the effect that the'terms offered were not acceptable. The whole matter, of oversea- .visits' was also.discussed by. the council, arid the need wag stressed-of improving the; finances of the association. ' .. ■'■,'■'. '■■■■ - '.■..■?•'■ '•

1 The' Finance Committee reported that it had decided to reply ,to the authorities in Australia to the effect that the terms of the Chinese tour were not acceptable, and further, that if a visit from that direction was desired in future negotiations should be conducted direct with the Chinese authorities. The dates suggested for matches with the Chinese team were: Auckland," 27th October; Wellington, 4th November; Dunedin, 11th November. The New Zealand Council, it was stated, -was to provide entertainment arid take 20 per cent, of profits. The Finance Committee also suggested, in. view of theLpresent state of ,the association's credit balance, that no negotiations should be made for oversea visits until sufficient, sums are forthcoming to pay cables and arrange preliminaries. Regarding the proposed Canadian tour, .it was suggested that the New Zealand Association should com : bine with' Australia and pool the gates: Mr. F. Campbell moved the adoption of the report. ■_ He considered that the Australian people thought they were/on a, good thing, and were hoping to send the Chinese team across to New Zealand near Christmas.' If the centres wanted future tours •to eventuate they would have to back up. the council financially.' The council, on a very slender revenue, had financed, the Australian tour and the' return trip. He thought that at present it would be very unwise to undertake any- big tours. >•'■•■■ Mr; H. Graves thought that the Finance Committee had taken the right 'stand. They could not progress without finance. It seemed-sad to think that after thirty-two' yearsi the council was living a more or less hand to mouth •■ex-: Citence.

Mr. H. Yeoman: "What was the first offer the Chinese made?" •:

• Mr. B. L. Salmon: "They wanted £1000, and w e made a counter offer,- to which .we have had no reply.",, : Mr. -Yeoman : "What about the; £10 offer which was cabled over a week or so ago?"' '-■"'■.■ , : •■■

Mr. Campbell: "That was just a bait to catch us. They wanted to get- in favour with the public." " , ' _; Mr. A. Varney said that he had been in correspondence with the V.M.C.A. in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and he could say definitely that there would be no difficulty in getting a good team of Chinese students- to' New Zealand at any time. ■'■■-■;■•■ , . ..:■ • ;....:

In regard to overseas tours generally, Mr. M. J. Hayward said that his opinion was that for at'least two years all over-, sea visits should ,be cut out of the programme. There was no doubt that there was a great need for improving the standard of play. He thought that next season they should devote their attention to the Chatham Cup. "Mr. B. Walls said that New Zealand's association with Australia had not been a very fortunate one, and. in regard to the Canadian tour he suggested that New Zealand should not pool gates with the' Australians. - " *

.Mr. Graves said-tiiatvif New Zealand pooled with Australia it' would make a difference of several hundreds of pounds in the profits. ; ;■■ yMr. Walls: "If is'a'matter of principle with me."

'; A member: "Sinlc,principle when it is a matter of profits." ': ■Mr. Walls:' "I think principle will win in the end.

The report was adopted, apart from the recommendation . that New Zealand should pool with- Australia in the matter of gates. . . :