The Hawera Star MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1925. AMATEURISM IN RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 March 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1925. AMATEURISM IN RUGBY

Delivered every evening by 5 o’cjook "i. Hawersl, Manaia. Nornianby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, HnrleyvillC, Patea, Wnverley, Mokoia, Whaler. ma r a, Ohangai. , Mereinere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

There appears, to be some .street corner criticism of the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union in warning members of the disbanded All Black team that they must not. accept gifts of cash from any of their admirers. “What has. .it to do with the union?” is the line of attack taken. It has just this to do. with, the union: That if gifts of money are to he sanctioned breaches of the amateur rule will be countenanced, and New Zealand will be cut off from participation in future international contests. There is nothing particularly demoralising in accepting a cheque, but the line between amateurism and professionalism in Rugby is clearly defined and most rigidly observed in Britain. The New Zealand Union is acting in the interests of players' themselves, and especially in the interests of those players of next generation who will compete for membership in the third All .Black team to go Home. It may be argued that there were all sorts of surreptitious gifts of money before this team sailed —in the shape of “surprise packets, ’ ’ “autograph, albums,” and the like. That was the case, and some rather nasty things were written about those gifts when our men were in Britain. It would not have been surprising had trouble been made. Rut there i« a difference between financial aid extended to a. player to enable him to make the journey—in. other words, assistance towards expenses—and pay merit made on his return in direct acknowledgment of his prowess abroad We take the view that no man’s anvilUmii* status was prejudiced by presentations made before .sailing. But, m common, with the officials of the New Zealand Union, we are by no meane so easy in viewing gifts of money at this stage. At least we can see the purpose of the warning that line been issued, and its issue certainly is not an. instance of official “butting in.

Nor, we imagine, is the warning likely to he resented in the quarter to which it is directed. Every member of the All Blacks, professional boxer and cash runners included, was a thorough-going amlaiteur in football; otherwise, the chara ate rustically shady tactics of the Northern Union authorities, in making overtures to Nepia and other .stars, wou.lcl have home fruit. Having scorned the direr? temptation overseas, the players will not object if their admirers at home be restrained from, .showering omhirrassing gifts. "Tie experience that

New Zealand and Australia have had of professional football has not been a happy one, and it has made a very poor appeal to the Dominions’ feelings of .sportsmanship. AVe cannot be too careful in guarding our Union R.ugby from the imputation that it is in the least, degree tarred with the same brush as the League.