AT OTAGO'S EXPENSE

Evening Star, Issue 19270, 8 June 1926, Page 3

AT OTAGO'S EXPENSE

WELLINGTON'S NEST FEATHERED A SOCCER COMPLAINT Objection was taken last night by members of the Management Committee of the Otago Football Association to what was considered a move on the part of the New Zealand Conned to centralise the best Soccer in "Wellington. . The question arose when, in the scrutiny of the council’s minutes, a clause was reached which mentioned a proposal to give £23 for the annual primary schools’ tournament, “to be contested in Wellington during August.” Mr-L. H. Scott; The "Wellington people are doing all they can to concentrate football there. Two years ago the Otago school team travelled to Canterbury, and last year to Wellington. This year they are expected to go again to Wellington. “Then,” proceeded Mr Scott, the council proposes to give £25 to Wellington, apparently to entertain the teams, a thing that here we ourselves do, and do willingly. Why, last year ono of our representatives in Parliament entertained them himself when the Wellington Association did not do it!”

A short discussion followed. “We can block this thing,” declared Mr Scott, “ by going back to our original scheme of playing Canterbury each year, as we did for years before the tourney started.’’ , „ „ The Chairman (Mr J. B. M'Callum) expressed disagreement with the connciPs action. Mr A. Cook: If that is the line they are going on we must stop it. They are trying to feather their nest at our expense. , The Chairman: "What do those in charge of the game in our schools think about it? Mr Scott said he had heard an expression of opinion from Mr Allan, who was right against it. Mr A. N." Smith moved—“ That the council’s attention bo drawn to the fact that Otago has not lately had the tournament, and a reouest be made tor it to be contested either in Christchurch or Dunedin.” The motion was generally supported, it being mentioned that it had cost Otago £SO to send teams to WellmgThe meeting unanimously adopted the motion, and it was decided to express Otago's views in plain terms to the council, pointing out that school Football should he fostered in the South Island as well as in the north.