NO STRONG FEELING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 11

NO STRONG FEELING

THE RULES OF.RUGBY

AUCKLAND TO CONFORM

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day

Considerable discussion of the Eng-; lisii Bugby Union's ultimatum with re-; gard to-'the playing of .rules, contrary to the. international rules took place at the annual ,_ general ..meeting of, the Auckland Bugby Union! ..' The general feeling was that Auckland would have to give way in the/ace.of the English ultimatum. It was realised that while the code might Suffer to a certain.extent from a reversion to the old rules Auckland could not afford 'to bo isolated.by retention of the- amended ■rules'.': ■'. '.■•' ■ ' ' ' .'•- Many of- the speakers wore...of the opinion ■ that the present day players, having a grounding in the amended rules,1 would play football equally open no matter under what conditions. ~•• The ■ opinion' was freely- expressed that, the only hope New "had of gaining representation on the International Board was for'it.'to fall into line over the question of the amended rules. ■'-..■•■•' A resolution was passed giving the Auckland delegates to the' annual meeting of the New Zealand Union at the end of ■ April a froo hand, with power to act accordingly. An amendment that the' Auckland delegates bo 'instructed t ' move that' Australia' be approached with a ivicw' to finding its attitude toward the Union's ultimatum was defeated. -The discussion made it clear that there exists no. strong feeling in Auckland for pressing the rules' controversy to the point of secession. Mr. H. Frost, chairman hi the executive, said'that all .ough a strong, advocate ,of the amended rules, he could not urge secession. .' He favoured continuing to play the Auckland game as, far as'possible under the orthodox rules.' He.was inclined to think that New South Wales would declare for playing ■ the international rules. ~....,