RUGBY RELATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 27 May 1925, Page 9

RUGBY RELATIONS

NEW ZEALAND AND ENGLAND

WELLINGTON UNION OPINIONS

RETROGRADE STEP TO BREAK

AWAY.

Certain proposals from tho supremo contra] of Rugby football which gave rise to talk at the last meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union's Executive" of a breakaway from the English Rugby Union, were considered by the Wellington Rugby Union's Management Committee last evening. The proposals related to conferences being preferable to an Imperial Rugby Football Advisory Board, as suggested by New Zealand, at the request of the Imperial Rugby Conference. The Wellington committeemen agreed that conferences were desirable, and at the same time the chairman (Mr. J: Prendeville) expressed the opinion that continuation of affiliation with the Mother Rugby Union was very desirable.

The notification of tho International Board's proposals had been received at tho previous meeting of the 'Wellington Eugby Union's Committee, and consideration had been' deferred for a week in order to give members an opportunity o£ giving due thought to what was re-' garded as a matter of vital importance. Tho International Board gave as its opinion that it was not desirable that an Imperial Rugby Advisory Board should be formed on the lines suggested by the New Zealand Itugby Union, but it considered that an Imperial Rugby Football Conference should bo held in London at intervals of not less than t.hree years, and that when practicable the representatives of tho colonies should be then living iv the colony they represent. A WASTE OF TIME. When the matter was placed before the meeting last evening for discussion, Mr. J.. N. Millard remarked: "All that I want to say is that I think our discussing it is a waste of time. We can really do nothing about it. I do not think we have much to complain of; we have practically got all we wanted lately." He felt sure that no member desired to show any hostility towards the English Rugby Union.

Mr. G. F. W. Jackson considered that a suggestion might be made that tho conferences bo held at Home and abroad alternately. The Chairman (Mr. J. Prendeville): "I take it the.New Zealand Union is looking for an expression of opinion from tho various unions." He pointed out that the International Board consisted of_ two representatives of each of the Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Unions and four representatives of the English Union. New Zealand, like a number of other overseas unions, was affiliated, probably out eff sentiment, with the English Rugby Union, and it was because of the affiliation of overseas bodies that the English Union had extra representation on the International Board. The standing of New Zealand, as a union, with the English Union was the same as that of a club in England or similar to that of a local club with the "Wellington Union. Many of the clubs at Homo were probably one-team clubs. "The affiliation with the English Union is almost enj tirely sentimental," said Mr. Prendeville. I "There is probably no special reason for it, other than that the English Union is the Mother Union of Rugby." It was further stated by the chairman that the question of the Imperial Advisory Board was discussed at the conference at Home, and New Zealand's point of view was put very thoroughly Iby the New Zealand delegates. That conference was not the International Board, which, Mr. Prendeville pointed out, was a body constituted by the four Home unions for dealing. with niterna- ' iional fixtures, disputes, and amend- | ments and new rules. "It seems to mo," he said, "that the attitude of tho Old Country members, most of whom were also members of the International Board, was a very conciliatory one, and 0110 in which they endeavoured to sec our point of view on all matters. Some matters, such as payment of players, | they refused to discuss, as being beycjid their jurisdiction, and they refused to have any voting. The delegates merely expressed their opinions for which they I were answerable to their own unions. They made it patently clear that the International 'Board bad its work cuf out in attending to matters for which . it was now set up, and that any extension of the work would make it cumbersome' and unwieldy." Appreciation was expressed at the conference of a scheme for an Imperial Advisory Board. The scheme was drawn up, and the result of the International Board's consideration of it was indicated in the advice which had come to hand through the New Zealand Rugby Union. EVERYTHING TO BE GAINED. It seems to me that there is everything to be gained and nothing to • be lost by retaining our affiliation with the English Rugby Union, Mr. Prendeville continued. The bond is largely a sentimental one. but it is a very fine brake on our own union, in that it still is a final arbitor on any matters of dispute that may arise here, and is the final judge of whether amendments should be made to the rules.

"Tho English Union has had longer experience and has had greater difficulties possibly than wo havo had. Its experience is very valuable. When we put forward 'amendments to rules we may look at the matter from an inexperienced point of view or from a purely local application, and, besides that, there may be other local influences that do not tend to give an unbiased opinion on Iho suggested*amendments. I think, personally, it is sound for us to remain affiliated so that the parent body, with all its experience, will still adjudicate on all amendments. ' It would be a very retrograde step to break away from the English^ Rugby Union. ■ "The_ suggestion of a triennial conference might be difficult on account of expense. It might bo better to have the conference every five years, and I think this would be in the best interests of the game." Continuing, Mr. Prendeville said that New Zealand, New South Wales, and South Africa each had a representative on the English Union. It had to be borne in mind, however, that there were other overseas unions plavin™ Hu^bv football. The three mentioned were" at present regarded as the three major overseas unions, but the time might come when tho others might'be contending with New Zealand tho supremacy of the Eugby field. Eacli oversea union reaching its majority would want representation, and with that there was a possibility of the Imperial Advisory Board becoming Tinweildy." As far as New Zealand requirements and viewpoints were concerned, ho considered that they would bo well kept before the Home uuions by (he New Zealand representative, Mr.' C. Wrny.

Finally. Mr. Preiidevillc sus^eslrrl Ihiit Urn New Zcaliiiid liu-hr'Tniou .uii^ht be ;idvisud_ tluU the Wcllijijluu

Committee was strongly in favour of retaining affiliation with the English Rugby Union, that an Imperial Conference every three years was impracticable, and that a conference every five years would be in tho best interests of Rugby. NO QUESTION OF BREAK. Mr. H. H. Sterling agreed in the main with what the chairman had had to say, especially in regard to affiliation. He did not see, however, that there was any suggestion of discontinuing affiliation. , "The main point we seem to want," he I added, "is that our voice should be heard, and I think that the conference will afford every bit as good an opportunity as the Imperial Advisory Board." He considered that the conferences should be held at five-yearly intervals. Another point in his mind was that too many opportunities should not be afforded for altering the rules. New Zealand might be experimentally inclined. ' Mr. G. F. W. Jackson: "Is it possible to suggest the practicability of hold- : ing conferences alternately at Home and in the Dominions?"

A member: "You haven't a chance." _ Mr. Jackson considered that by holding some conferences in the Dominions it might be of advantage to the Home unions in that they, through their delegates, would have an opportunity of seeing the conditions under which the Dominions played, and they might also get new viewpoints. Mr. Prendeville moved: "That this committee considers that affiliation with the English Union should be maintained, and that, the suggestion of Imperial Ru"by conferences would be satisfactory "if held every five years." Mr. J. N. Millard : "It looks as though a proposal to break our affiliation is reaJiy before the unions in New Zealand. I cannot see that there is."

Mr. Sterling: "I think we should deal wiui the document before us." ,r.^ r' i ,Pl' cV devllle exPlai"ed that back- in J920 the desirability of retaining affiliation was discussed.

nMv™£ £ letcher: "I do not think the N.4.R.U. Committee would decide to discontinue affiliation without an opinion from the delegates." Mr. Prendeville's motion lapsed, and another, moved hy Mr. Sterling and seconded by Mr. A. Jackson, was carried as follows:—

That the New Zealand Union be informed that this committee considers that the proposed period for meetings of the Imperial Conference should be nve years instead of three years.