MUST NOT BE DONE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 6

MUST NOT BE DONE

PRESS WRITING FOR

PAY

RUGBY UNION ACTION

The New Zealand Rugby Union's executive does'not approve of players

or officials writing Press articles or broadcasting on current Rugby for remuneration. A memorandum on the subject has been sent to unions (as reported in "The Post" earlier in the week), and last night at a meeting of the executive action was taken which amounted to a.- declaration that the practice must cease. The Canterbury Rugby Union, referring to the N.Z.R.U. circular letter regarding the writing of articles for the Press, wrote asking for £ ruling in the case of a member of a club publishing a book dealing with the game. After discussion in committee, the chairman (Mr. S. S. Dean) reported that the executive saw no objection to players writing as in the case cited by Canterbury as long as it was in retrospect and did not refer to current Rugby football. There was a rule which clearly established the position, "and," he added, "the New' Zealand Rugby Union expects that the rule will be carried out in its -entirety." In the rules of the Rugby Football Union (England),- with which body New Zealand is affiliated, it is laid down that "no member of the commit,tee of the' union, and, unless engaged solely in the .profession of journalism, no committeeman of any constituent body or club under the jurisdiction of the union, or referee or. player, shall write, give information, or interview for the Press, or broadcast on current Rugby football for remuneration."