A WARNING TO HEED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 November 1926, Page 4

A WARNING TO HEED.

In view of ugly rumours current fit the close of last Rugby season, to the effect that an effort may be made next year to establish the League code in Taranaki, players and supporters of the Union game are justified in noting for future reference the unseemly wrangle which has split the New Zealang League team at present touring Great. Britain. Four men have received orders to return to the Dominion, and three others have announced their wish to be sent home too. The meagre news received indicates that the trouble arose “over a question of expenses,” and that the disgraced quartet refused to play. Its apologists never tire of proclaiming thatUhe League game in New Zealand is' amateur. It is not wholly amateur, although neither is it professional in the sense that “Soccer” is at Home. There arc fine sportsmen playing League in New Zealand —as well as some who have been banished from the Union field for malpractice; there are true blue amateurs playing League —and some others. The game may be good—although it is no better than Rugby some of its players may be fine fellows, and the management of League may be more or less straight. But it is a game into which money enters to a greater extent than is good’for either the sport or its administration. Taranaki has tried Rugby and proved its worth. It would bo a. thousand pities if trifling differences between neighbouring clubs should open the door to those who hope to profit by pushing the nonunion game. No private pocket makes money from Union Rugby, places in REAL All Black teams are won on merit, and New Zealand Union representatives are able to win their matches. That should be sufficient recommendation to entrench the present game in this province for all time.