LEAGUE TOURISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1926, Page 7

LEAGUE TOURISTS

THE PREMIER'S REMARKS

REPLY TO A PROTEST.

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. A- letter from Mr. Coatcs in which regret was expressed for any misunderstanding caused by tho rcnarks made by*, him in Parliament during the discussion in regard to tho status of the touring New Zealand League footballers was read at a meeting of tho Council last evening. The discussion in Parliament arose out of a request for pay-! ljient of wages to a postal servant who is a member of tho team. in tho course of the League secretary's letter to the Primo Minister, he said that his object in drawing, attention to the matter is that a statement coming from tho Leader of the country would bo taken by tho general public as authentic, and would lead to the belief that the players, besides being reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses, are' being paid £4 10s per week extra. "We resent very much the statement mado by Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P., that the League footballers in the Dominion aro professionals. Our men are not paid for playing football. The constitution forbids such a thing. Iv this we differ from tho players in England, who aro like Association players, and are paid for their services." . Mr. Coates replied that ho had noted the particulars as outlined, and very much regretted if any remarks of his had led to a misunderstanding of the actual position.

The council decided to take no further action.