LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 18669, 25 June 1924, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

DUNEDIN TO SEE IT. A GAME OF HIGH STANDING. NOT A PROFESSIONAL TODY. “To sc© League football played is to adopt it,” Mr H. A. Millard, the official organiser of the New Zealand Rugby LootKill league, fold a public meeting held last night in NLr 11. Divers’s board room. There were over fifty present, and for two hours Mr Millard placed facts and figures regarding the administration and control of the code before his listeners. Mr .1. S. .Douglas was chairman for the evening. At the conclusion of Mr Millard’s address the following resolutions were carried;— (1) That this meeting regrets the action of the Otago Rugby Union in not granting the use of one of the grounds at present under lease to them to stage an international Rugby League match between England and Canterbury on August 9. This meeting therefore resolves to set up a board of Control with a view to carrying out the arrangements in connection with the proposed visit of the team to the Otago pro(2) That this meeting recommends that tile Beard of Control .should immediately take the. necessary steps to secure the visit of the team, even though they are forend to play on an often ground, and that strong representation be made to the Now Zealand League to make the visit possible. The following committee was appointed;—Messrs T. M. Gillies, W. Lindsay, E. Noes, T. Hughes, J. T. Cooper, E. Longwortli, IV. M’Ewen, R. I?. Tennent, B. S. Irwin, A. J. Rice, W. Bray. T. White. M. IL tied don, 11. Divers, and J. Kilmartin.

Mr Douglas expressed pleasure at soring such a largo attendance., and said it seemed that the meeting was to he an enthusiastic one. He had to apologise for the absence of the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr H. L Tapley), whom ho (the. speaker) was representing'. He explained that Mr Tapley's absence was due to the fact that ho had another engagement. The speaker was very pleased l to be there that, night iu the interests of sport generally. "‘Hear. hoar.") The subject to be discussed was going to give a good deal of concern, particularly to us in Dunedin. He believed that the Mayor of Auckland .Sir James (funsonl was the patron oi the League game. The Mayor of Wellington was, lie understood, connected with Ihe game, and he knew tint Dr Thacker was very warmly interested in it. Then iSir Arthur Myers was president of the Rugby League in Auckland. Tims he could accept it as his duty to be there that night to preside. (Applause.) He had never seen a League game; but lie was impressed to see present Jimmy Duncan, the great New Zealand footballer —(applause)—as well as Tom Gillies, a gnat Dunedin sport and a president of the Otago Boxing Association. Then there was also Lindsay, another All Black. Ho also saw Mr Longworth (a St. Kilda councillor), and Mr Seal don (an ex-councillor of St. Kilda). He. had read the report, of the Otago Rugby Footlvi.ll Union, and he might slate that ho was a keen supporter of that game, as well as oi the Soccer game. Ho believed that the great All Blacks of 1906, when they toured Britain, were granted privileges such :us the League were asking now. ("Hear, hoar,”) it seemed that now the whole matter of sport, lay in their own hands. The community was growing, and sport was growing cleaner and cleaner every day, thanks to the elforts of those in control. The League game was a new thing to Dunedin. but he was sure that those at the head of it wore as good and as clean sports ms were connected with anv game. In conclusion, Mr Douglas said he was there with the full approval of the mayor, and he was sure that as citizens of Dunedin they would give Mr Millard a fair and impartial hearing. (Loud applause.) Mr Miihird said he wished to correct the chairman on one point. Ho had stated that the Mayor of Wellington was; intenisted in the League code. That was not so. In 1922 the Mavor of Wellington proved himself to he alisolnlcly anta.gonistie to code, for he refused‘to give an official welcome to the Australian (earn that came to New Zealand. The League officials went to the Prime Minister, and he gave the players a parliamentary reception in the Parliament Building,-. '(.Applause.)

Mr .Millard said 1m would trv (n place before them the actual facts in innncrtion with (lie League gain.'. ]|<. had beer treated by some as if he was infected with influenza germs, and was Irving fo infect Dunedin ; hut he did not mind that, its he had been well received hv tho read sports of Dunedin. It was a national essential that sport should Ik* inculcated into national life. New Zealand bad recedved greatej’ advertisement through spoit than ever through politics. He was a Rugby I-eagne organiser, Rugby 1/oaguo was Rugby rublx-d and smartened up. and made a more attractive game. Mr Millard then pro* ceded to trace the begini)in.gs and history of the game. He said that in England at one time there was only one Rugby gatric. Rut, as there was progress in everything else, there was progress in Rugby. All branches of sport progressed, records were over being broken, am] fresh ones being put up. What was good lime for a horse to do a furlong a few years ago was now considered slow. So why should Rugby stand still? People in the North of Un-g----land saw this and said; “Wc want a faster game;” and they tried to get that plutocratic body, the English ° Rughv Union, to amend tho rules, but were ruled out. so they said they would play the game themselves. They .amended the rules to suit themselves, ami started a game of their own. Tho people in tho south, when they saw tho new game making headway, stigmatised it with tho name professionalism.

I lie All Blocks wore the greatest a.d veriiscincnt Now Zealand ever harl and was likely to get. When the All Blacks "■ore in England they were even criticised hy the newspapers for adopting advanced movements. That showed the narrow conservatism of the English llugby game. He had been told it was no use to push IhC game in the South Island of New Zealand; but it had already gained ground in Canterbury, ami lie knew it would soon gain in popularity elsewhere. League was an English game, but was not hound with the so-called traditionalism of the English llugby Union. The Kn.gl ish Union spoke of traditionalism, but what "happened in the Olympic Games? Tho English llugby Union had withdrawn, its team from the Olympic Ganns, Was that the traditional garni; of llucliv’ He himself had left the 11-ngby game with honors. Before ho left for tho" war he was for four years on the executive of the West Coast lingby Union, and bad brongnt into being two clubs. For those four years he had tried to break away from tho English-bound rules, and to use their own initiative, but ho could do no good. _ He had seen a lingby game in Dunedin last Saturday, and saw that the union had copied one of tho League's rules— “ kicking out of touch.” (Latmbtor.) People said that there wan professionalism in the League game. The union game prided itself on its amateurism; vc: in the 1924 All Black team there ’ was a New Zealand professional boxer and a professional runner, and allowances were also given to players. Was that consistent with amateurism? Tho English Union said the New Zealand Union must not make allowances to players. The English Union dominated the Now Zealand Union as to how the All Blacks must be treated. Amateurism was the greatest farce in the world. It amid be twisted to suit the occasion. Preferring to the request to the Otago llugby Union for the use of a ground in connection with the visit of the English League team, he said that lie had put the position fairly before the llugby Union, tie represented one sport and tho union another. It was only force of ctrcum-

stances that the union had options over the grounds. Tho test of a gamo was the public support, and if tho public wanted I/oaguo the Rugby 11 nion had no right to stop" the people from having League. (Applause,) Tiro word professionalism had been levelled against the League gamo. Rvofcssionalism, ns bo knew it, was when a man depended upon a certain thing for his living. Ho would definitely state that there was not. a League player in Australia or New Zealand dependent upon football for a living, and there was not a single man in league football in Now Zealand receiving monetary payment. When the league sent a team on tour players wore paid 10s per day as a travelling allowance. Tho payment was paid on top of tho table, and a receipt was received. The allowance was not slipped into the boot, as tho league considered tho allowance was duo to the players. .1 he All Blacks of 1905 received 3s per day, but tho cost of living had gone up, and 7s would be its equivalent to-day. 'The allowance given to players was whom professionalism began anti ended with the League game. If anybody could prove the contrary he would give LIOO to anv charity. liie game was played in New Zealand some time before the League was formed, and it was owing to the demands of the plavers that the League came into existence in 1910. In 1903 a Maori League team toured Australia at its own expense, and when the- team came back people said : "This must be a pretty good game; lot us have ago at it.” And as sport of any kind must have a head or controding body the League was formed and constituted. Monopolies wore not desirable in anything, especially in sport, and tho Rugby Union was riding for a tall if it thought it could make a monopoly of Rugby. Everything was above board with the League* At the annual meetings the bal-ance-sheet, report, and rides were issued to members (not sold for sixpence), and the president and executive officers were freshly elected every year. Mas that professionalism? There were nine Leagues affiliated to the parent body, and, accordins (o [.fie constitution of the League, the only source of revenue was from touring ami visiting teams. Grants to teams needing funds totalled £2,933 18s 7d during the vear. The League in Auckland owned hs own ground. In 1919 the Auckland League* had £7O liabilities and £4O in cash, ami in 1924 it had its own ground, hut sjxmt £9,C00 on it, and had a consolidated fund of £4,000. There were no paid officials in tho League, The ground in Auckland was a reserve hold in trust by the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and it gave it to the League at a low lease. Within eighteen months -after getting the ground the League had, by means of working bees and assistance from the Now Zealand League, turned what had been a Chinaman's garden into one of tho most up-to-date sports grounds in Now Zealand. Was that the work of a professional body? This ground was an acquisition to the city of Auckland, and tho first year it had been formed, when there wen; seven senior teairjß in the League competition and there were not sufficient grounds, this ground was lent to the New Zealand Football Association for the Australian Soccer match, which drew a £4OO gale. Was that the action of a professional body?

■When the All Blacks played Yorkshire County (they won by 40 to nil) the. match was played on the Northern Union ground. The ground was in splendid condition, having been protected by a thick layer of straw from the frost. Was it not a sporting thing that the 'League should place its ground at the disposal of the English Rugby Union? Subsequently, when the Springboks toured England, they played on that ground. Ho was wondering whether the 1924 All Blacks would aLo piny on that ground. Then they could turn to New Zealand. In Christchurch they had Lancaster Park. On the gate appeared an inscription to the effect that it was dedicated to the heroes of the province; yet it was left to the Canterbury Rugby Union to differentiate, as to who wore heroes and who were not. (Laughter.) Lancaster Park belonged to Hie community, and the Canterbury Rugby Union bad refused to allow a match with the English League team to bo played there. Evidently the League code had no heroes.

Mr Millard wont on to quote the names of a number of very prominent men connected with the code as an indication of the high standing of the game. If they could find him a paid servant of the League, he would forfeit £IOO to any charity.

The League game, believed in assisting the dubs under its jurisdiction. Tn Auckland each senior club was given forty vice-presidents’ tickets, each worth £1 Is, admitting the holder to all matches. Thus each club was given a, start off with 40gs. Twenty such tickets were given to each junior club. Then in the. last game, of their roop rooster competition 50 per cent, of (bo gate was divided between the two teams, and 60 per cent, was given to the charities of the. city. They had been in existence for fourteen years, and in Auckland alone £5,C00 had been given to charity by the !/eague. (Applause.) Was that tho act of a professional body that was in the grime for what it could got out of it? (Cries of “ No!” a.nd applause.) They were told that they were not progressing. Canterbury had paid tho last deposit on a thirty-throo-acro section with a half-mile frontage to Ferry- road, which had a double tram lino, and which was only one section from Cathedral square. The rnonev had been raised by enthusiasts who were convinced (hat League was tho best game. That, ground was going kf be a healthy athletic reserve for tho athletes of the city, no matter what garno they plavcd. (Applause.) Tic claimed that it was going to bo the greatest acquisition Ciiristc.hurc.il had ever had. Some people said that New South Wales was financing these grounds. He was there to say that never since the start bad the New Zealand League needed outside funds, Tho Christchurch ground would be let to tho various sports bodies at an absolute minimum of rental. In Auckland amateur athletic meetings had already hern held on the ground of that 11 professional ” body, the League. Tho most they charged anybody was 12a per cent, on the first £IOO and 10 per cent, on the rest, and the League, manne.d tho gates. (A Voice: Tho charge here is 25 per rent, of the takings.) He had no doubt that if tho Auckland Rugby Union came to the League for the nse of the ground to play a match the answer would Im “Yes.” (Applause.) The Knglish team was coming, and the New Zealand Rugby Union was saying that tlicv were not going to play them here. The League said they were. (Lorn! cheering ami applause.) Tho League was not going to open up the stand at 10s, ,as Hie Rugby Union did in the -Springbok games. Thev were going to charge 2s to go into the ground and 6s extra tor the stand. In 1822 an Australian League team was in New Zealand, and it threatened to come to Dunedin; hut an soon as the Rugby Union learned that tho game might come here it. secured an option over Forhury Par!;. The Rugby Union had maliciously misrepresented tho League game. ft, was stated that the League was trying to wean players from tho other code. Tie was there to contradict that. The League authorities had never made tho slightest attempt to coerce a player to go over to their code, and they would □ever do so.

Tho New Zealand League, the Canterbury League, and the subsidiary bodies had rnado no attempt tn induce tho Marist Brothers’ CTah to secede from the Rnghy Union. He could state officially that not ono line of correspondence had passed between (.he League and the club. They did not interfere one way or the other, and they did not know that the Marists were joining tho League until the Sunday before they played their first match. They were very pleased to have (he Marists with them, and they were in the League code to stay there. (Applause.)

Tbe’ League authorities had never received any help from outside, either from England or New South Wales. They had their own grounds in Auckland and Christchurch, and negotiations were in progress for llio purchase of a ground in Wellington. What, the B-ugby Union was revving might ho described as propaganda: but he' could classify it as dirty, malicious, lying misstatements. In Auckland the

Rugby Union had read its forty-ninth annual report; and did it have *a ground? Every man who played in the League senior competitions was insured, and if he wore hurt he received £3 a week for fifteen weeks, while if his death occurred £3OO was paid out. They were not, frightened of the latter event occuning. Their gamo did not allow any stacks on the mfil. It was good clean football. In addition, continued Mr Millard, they bad what was known as a glee club, which was at tho service of anyone who was “up against it.” That club had done yeoman service, having given away £.125 to those, who needed it. The League was not able to cover junior players; bnt it gave a subsidy to the extent that for 5s a year a player could get 30s a week for five weeks. For 3s a year a player could get £1 a week for five weeks, and the schoolboy, who paid Ls a year, could get 10s a week for five weeks if lie were injured. Tho gleo club was behind them all if they were still “ up against it. They paid their referees and their junior players to 'go from tho city to suburban grounds. Was a boy a professional because they paid his ’ travelling expenses, or was it fair to ask a referee to pay Ids faro to control a match? (\oiees; “ No. ’) Because they did that they were dubbed professionals. It had been stated that only rejects from Rugby played the game. They were not allowed to play league, in the schools in New Zealand; ami they were not allowed to play it in Australia until 1920; but. thanks to Mr T. D. Mulch (Minister of Education) it was made possible for tlx; children to decide what game they desired to play by means of a referendum. More than 100 public schools in Sydney alone played the League game exclusively, and each school had not fewer than four teams. Mr Millard claimed that tho children of New Zealand had as much right to decide on their game as they had iu New Smith Wales. The only thing that prevented it, here was the fear of the Rugby Union that its code would drop out of favor. The three biggest seats of learning in Australia—the Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne Universities—played the .League game —Brisbane and Melbourne exclusively, and Sydney both codes. There was no feeling of antagonism between tho followers of the two codes in .Sydney. Mr Millard went on to give, further details of the progress of the gamo in Australia, with particular reforenoo to the schools. When they started their propaganda in the school's of New Zealand, as thev were going to do, they would work on the same lines. Why could not Dunedin have a taxi drivers’ team, a railway team, a post otlice team, a. t ramv.ay team ? He. saw no reason why that, should not romo about, and he had every reason to believe that it would do so. 'Hie League had a better system of selecting players from country teams than the Rugby Union, and (he whole, administrative system was well organised, Mr Millard then proceeded to compare the entrv form of the League with that of the Union. The latter, ho said, was an absurd thing, which ended with a statutory declaration before a ,LB. They all knew that the bone of contention with the Rugby Union was Carl Ifworson. of Auckland.' He had been accepted back into the Union, but lie was not eligible for the All Blacks. During the match Auckland v. Hawke’s Bay, which was for Urn purpose of selecting players for tho All Blacks, a man was hurt, and the first emergency was ready to go on in his stead, but the crowd yelled for Ifvvcrson, and the Rugby Union officials put him on instead of the first emergency. The Rugby Union was frightened of the public support. Was that justice? Tho League would not tolerate a thing like that. Tho first emergency would have got his chance to prove himself, whether the public wanted somebody else or not.

The League was accused of recruiting disgruntled Rugby players. Let them put that out of their heads at once. In the Australian team which came over here was a plavcr named Bridgeman who used to play in' Christchurch, and he persuaded the League to let the team play in Christchurch and this had been made out_ to bo that the League had to Christchurch to try and won the Marists over to the code. That was the (cam that had been locked out of Lancaster Park. In the South Auckland district the Rugby Union had refused to admit several Maori teams, and Um Maori boys, not to be done out of (heir game, joined up with the League. Was I hat a sportsmanlike spirit on the part of the Rugby Union? The League was progressing fast, as instanced by the (wo visits of the English teams in 1914 and 1929, On the occasion of the first visit the cross gale takings in Australia were £17).995 and in New Zealand £1,980. In 1920 the Australian receipts wore, £28.693 and the New Zealand £4,178. The great progress made, by the League,-was due In (he fact that it. aimed at getting public support and look the public into consideration in every respect. During the last- fourteen years the League had brought three vi-iting teams from England. Had the Rugby I nion dene that?

A correspondent in tho local papers sain that if the League lost over Hie present visit of the English team Australia would pav. Tie gave that the lie direct. The books of tho League were open to anybody who wished to examine them, and the League would willingly give £IOO to the Dunedin Hospital if it could bo proved that a single penny was received from outside sources. lie was not afraid to admit that there was professionalism in England, but in New Zealand the League was purely amateur. Soccer in England had tho 'greatest professionalism in the world, vet who would give the name professionalism to New Zealand Soccer? Tho primary reason of his visit to Dunedin was to make it possible to lei. the English team play here, and in spite of tho" Rugby Union'they were going tn have them. (Applause.) He was going to tel! (he New Zealand League that there was a ground which the Otago Rugby Union did not control, arid that was tho Oval. They would send the boxes around and trust to tho sportsmanship of the Dunedin people to pay. (Applause.) To see tho game was to adopt it. He said he would like to touch c, n the Imperial aspect of tho visiting team. In Australia the international visits were recognised as being ambassadorial visits from one country to another. I horn had been three visits of English teams to New Zealand, vet Dunedin had not seen a game yet. These visiting teams wore not -ml. for material gain, but were imbued with national instincts. The managers were nun of standing in England and reliable, and were not tire kind of men to associate themselves with anything underhand or with a band of men who came out tn make money. With (he present team were seven’ men who were combining business with pleasure. They represented millions of people, and they were going to learn all tlicT could about New Zealand and her industries. When they got batik Home they would he interviewed, and thev would give their impressions of their visit. They were, practical ambassadors. Tho same with the oilier members of the learn. Now, if they did not como to Dunedin, then' to thorn Canterbury would be the South Island of New Zealand. There would bo no advertisement in that for Otami. Tim Otago Rugby Union should consider tho international aspect- and the national importance of this visit, before refusing to give tho use of a ground. Ho congratulated (ho New Zealand Football Association in bringing tho Chinese team to New Zealand. In five or tcu years’ time the fruits of that visit would be seen in tbs trading returns between the two countries. It had been said that tho League was confined to a restricted area. That was not so. Thov could have inferprovincial. interstate, and international matches the same as Rugbv, a.nd they could have more interstate games than the Rugby Union, as the Lea-rue was played more in the Australian States. What was wrung with the League game? Nothing. Only the Rugby Union would not let ’the Dunedin public see, a eame. When a League team went on tour two capable managers were sent with it, and when it returned they had to give a report of their stewardship and a balancesheet governing every match played. The League had nothing to hide, and did not want to hide anything. If the time overcame when it over did anything Hie players had the power to elect a now

executive and see that things "were ran properly. If the public of Dunedin wanted to see the English team play they should take a definite stand and say that in the interests of British fair play the Otago Rugby Union must give a ground. Ho himself was not going to give up the idea of having the game played in Dunedin.

Referring bade to the definition of an amateur, lie said that ho considered that the World’s Amateur Athletic Association was the- only body to define an amateur, lie had moved as a remit at the Far Eastern Athletic Association that a now definition bo given by the Olympia athletic body, and when that definition _ was given they would not find any professional boxers or runners in the All Black team.

In conclusion, he thanked Mr Douglas for presiding, and said that the meeting was one of the most enthusiastic ho had ever addressed. On behalf of the League, he would like to thank Mr 11. Divers for calling the meeting and making all arrangements so that he could place the position of tiie League before the people of Dunedin and was able lo correct some of the things the League had been unjustly accused of. .Mr Douglas said they wore deeply indebted to Mr .Millard for the able manner in which he had placed his facta before them. Ho was especially pleased to hear the reference to the Imperial aspect of the tour.

Mr Millard, in reply to a question, said ho did not know why If worsen wont back tn (he Union game. They asked no player to join (he League, and (hey asked no question if a player left their ranks. In response to another question, Mr Millard said that if they had enthusiasm they would soon get the game established. 'Pen years ago in Auckland they had to go out to Avondale for a ground. Dunedin would have the same difficulty: but he thought that there was sufficient enthusiasm to surmount it. If they formed teams and got a centre established, they would have the strength of the League behind them.

A speaker mentioned that the Leaguwould get plenty of support in Southland, and Air .Millar:! remarked that he was going to Southland, and to Stewart Island, ton, if necessary.

Mr Gillies, in moving the motions previously recorded, expressed very high appreciation of the excellent, exposition ol the Facts of tho Rugby League code. It was good, clean sport. He remembered the League games on the Caledonian Ground many years ago. The games went fiii for two or three weeks, but were then blocked. The code was a progressive one. and they should have it here. The publir would lip Die judges, and if it were a bad code, it would be kicked out.

Mr Hooper, who seconded the. resolutions, said ho'was entirely in accord with them. He was sure that when they saw the English team play they would say (hat League was one of the. finest games it was possible to see. Mr Longworth said that the Rugby Union wa.s'preventing its supporters from welcoming an international team. He expressed the. opinion that Ibe Rugby game here was not worth a candle before the introduction o? the kicking into touch rule.

A vote of thanks was passed to Air Millard for his address.

A vote of thanks was also accorded Mr Douglas for presiding. Mr .Douglas, in reply, congratulated them on the orderliness'of the meeting. It was one of the most orderly gatherings he had ever presided over.

[Extended Ren irt by Arrangement.]