SOME PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 133, 9 June 1927, Page 16

SOME PROGRESS

STATUS OF RUGBY

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION

The claims of New Zealand to better recognition so far as the control of Rugby football is concerned have been again considered by the English Rugby Union and the International Board, and information now to had indicates that some progress has been made. The New Zealand Rugby Union has received advice from the English Union expressing regret that the proposals which ,it had put forward for the formation of^ an Imperial Advisory Board were not adopted. It was pointed out in' the communication, however, that the proposals adopted as set out in the following clauses were practically as originally suggested by the New Zealand Union:— "(1) That an Imperial Rugby Football Conference should be held at interval of not more than three years to consider amendments to the laws of the game and- the rulings thereunder, and (2) any other matters relating to the game generally." The English.Union's conimitteo trusted- that as the discussion of future conferences; could be of the most far reaching character and should be 6f; great service to the game, it was hoped;that the proposals so far agreed to by. the board would meet with the" approval of the New Zealand Rugby Union. "That is very satisfactory," remarked the chairman (Mr. S. S. Dean), when the letter had been read at last night's meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union's Management Committee. Mr. E. Wylie: "The time will come When the power of the Advisory Board will increase." The Chairman: "There is no question that we have made a good deal of progress. In the meantime I would like copies of this letter sent to Messrs. Harris and Wilson for their views, and I would also suggest that a sub-com-mittee be set up to draft a reply to the Rugby- Union (England." Mr. A. C. Kitto: "We have a letter on the way r bout our feelings regarding the Advisory .Board. You have told them what we want, and we may as well mark time until we get it." Mr. T. A. Fletcher: "I think we should assure England that we appreciate their efforts." The Chairman: "I do not think there is any doubt about that." •Mr. W. F. Hornig: "We have.to keep [hammering' way until we get a Rugby Board of Control. We want something more than an Advisory Board." It was decided to adopt the chairman's suggestion. '