CHINESE FOOTBALLERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 1 May 1925, Page 3

CHINESE FOOTBALLERS

RECENT TOUR REVIEWED

BALANCE-SHEET DISCUSSED.

• "I am very pleased with the Chinese tour; I am delighted with it.' We em-, barked on an expenditure of £6564, and wo had £26 when we started. Just think about that." These were remarks made by Air. F. Campbell, chairman of the Finance Committee of the New Zealand Football Association, at the annual general meeting of delegates, which was held last evening. Mr. J. J. Roberts presided. The comments were made when the balance-sheet of the tour of the Chinese University Soccer team which toured New Zealand last season was being discussed.

■ The gate receipts from the tour were £6996. The balance-sheet showed a

credit balance of £53. The main items of expenditure were:—Costs of grounds and labour, £673; steamer fares, £2010; railway fares, £516; motor fares, £378; assembling and outfit, £574; printing and advertising, £538; hotel accommodation, £1279.

Mr. H. I. Graves, hon. treasurer, said it was with regret he viewed the bal-ance-sheet. Tile result was not as had been anticipated by the members of the council, who had worked hard to keep down expenditure. It would have to be taken into consideration that the bulk of the money was spent by affiliated associations. The council also did not anticipate landing in New Zealand footballers who .did not possess football boots or football pants. The expense of sending a trainer through New Zealand had to be faced, and "everywhere wo seemed to be dipping further and further into the gate money," he said. "We did not tnrow money away," he said, "and m did our best to keep down expenditure." Mr. H. Ritchie said there was not much benefit in. discussing the balancesheet. "We. can't gain anything," ha said. "The tour is finished. We have got experience, and we should go ahead working on it." NO DISCREDIT. Mr. H. G. Mayer said he felt very disappointed over the receipts. He pointed out that the tour had had the result of introducing the game into many districts, of improving it, and of making it popular. He referred to the fact that during the tour many reports had been received.that, large gates were,being obtained, and pointed out that that had been misleading to the council. The receipts were £69CX). They had been estimated, at £9000. He paid a tribute to Messrs. Graves and Campbell on the manner in which they had carried out their work. There was no discredit on the Finance Committee or the council, he said.

Mr. J. Young said the question was as to how. the council could profit by the tour in the future. He suggested the appointment of a whole-time officer who would act as organiser.

AN UNFAIR COMPARISON,

Mr. B. Salmon said it was unfair foe critics to compare the Chinese tour with that of the tour of the Australians. The Australian tariff was 11s a day and the Chinese 15s, 6d. The Australian tour lasted 56 days and the_Chinese 82. The item"d{^'l^sßemisl[ng""_n_"'o_f;fit, £570," was unexpected. •

Mr. H. J. Buck was of the opinion that the newspaper reports of tho gates were misleading to the public and to the committee itself. The question of an organiser was out of the question on account of lack of finance.

■ " I am very pleased with the Chinese tour. I am delighted with it," declared Mr. F. Campbell. " What did you expect? Wo thought we were going to make a lot of money. We found thoso expectations were wrong. We embarked on an' expenditure of £6554, and we had £26 when we started. Just think about that! Instead of saying ' l:ow rotten,' I think we did well out of it. The_ association has not suffered, the affiliated associations have not suffered; you have all got your money back; and you have had some glorious games. You have helped to popularise the game in New Zealand. . . . This is the • bal-ance-sheet of the most successful tour ever held in New Zealand. We would have made more money had it been with any team but the Chinese. When they got here we were faced with bills that would have staggered most people. Assembling and outfitting we never thought of. We had to provide them with boots, socks, and pocket money. The team was beaten, and they became very disheartened. It was a great relief when they played the last match. But for Colin Keid they would never have finished." THE ASSOCIATION'S POSITION.: "If associations had been more loyal to the council, there would have been a bigger credit balance than there is to-day. When they spend money, without referring it to us, we pay, and that is why the balance is not bigger. Give tbe cormeil the loyalty it deserves, and you will get better results." - Regarding the extra allotments for advertising, Mr. Campbell said the men were getting! tired and beaten, and the council had to boost them. " We have learnt a lot, and I do say it was a wonderful tour." Mr. A. E. Wells said that, oo behalf of the Wellington Association, he had been inclined to criticise the balancesheet, but after having heard the explanations he thought they had no kick coming at all. The council hact done wonders. He advocated closer co-ordination between delegates and their associations in the future.. '

The balance-sheet was adopted.