Appeal for Freer Football

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 162, 28 June 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

Appeal for Freer Football

Deletion of Restriction Rules Advocated

Canterbury Union 9 s Discussion

“After talking with Messrs. Baxter and Prentice, of the English team, I have come to the conclusion that we take our football far too seriously,” said Mr. S. F. Wilson, at a meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union this week. “Mr. Baxter said that far too free-kicks are given here. When two British teams go on to the field everyone concerned presumes that they are just thirty sports out to play football, and no one would deliberately play offside. With all our rules, we are inclined unconsciously to mistrust one another.”

As the result of Mr. Wilson’s appeal, the Canterbury Rugby Union decided to recommend that many of the rules “hedging in and restricting the Rugby game” should be deleted.

Supported by Dr. Seed and Mr A. E. Flower, Mr Wilson urged that clubs and players should trust each other, get together more, and get more fun of the game. ‘ ‘ After talking with Messrs Baxter and Prentice, of the ‘English team, I have come to the conclusion that we take our football far too seriously,” said Mr Wilson, “Mr Baxter said that far too many free-kicks are given here. When two British teams go on to tho field everyone concerned presumes that they are just thirty sports out to play football, anil no one would deliberately play offside. With all our rules, we are inclined unconsciously to mistrust ono another. Only to-night the committee fined six clubs for breaches of tho permit rules. LEAVE IT TO THE CLUBS. “I would like to suggest that for a season we should do away with most of the permit rules and leave it to the clubs to do the fair thing. Why a club should have to supply a list ot players at tho beginning of the season I can’t see. I am sure we could play without being so hedged in by rules and regulations. If we could catch the spirit of the thing we could play the game just as well. “I will move that the committee be asked to bring down a recommendation to the annual meeting that most of tho permit rules bo scrapped, over one season, at all events.” LACK OF TRUST. “I will second that, and I am glad to endorse Mr Wilson’s remarks,” said Dr. W. 8. Seed. “Wo take the game far too seriously. The players do not trust one another. The object of the game is to give them fun and exercise. There is far too much notice taken of the public.” Mr T. Milliken (Old Boys): I don’t know if I art reading Mr Wilson’s words aright, but I must protest that tho spirit in which tho game is played couldn’t bo better than it is in Canterbury. Tho public take it very seriously, but then it is practically the only game. “As far as I know, the only objectionable feature in Rugby in this country is the attempts that are sometimes made to get away with the Ranfurly Shield. As far as grade games in Canterbury go you couldn’t wish to meet with a better spirit in Rugby. I agree with Mr Wilson that we are over-governed and could do without many of our rules; but I won't give place to Britain or any other country as having the best sporting spirit.” NOT ENOUGH FUN. Mr Wilson: I would like to make an explanation. I don’t think for a minute that the players here are

not sports. I don’t want to bo associated with that sentiment. My point is that we are over-governed, and that there is not enough fun in the game. Mr J. K.Moloney: I had a chat with Mr Baxter and he told mo Rugby rules in England were drawn up for a game which a man could play without over-much preparation apart from his ordinary mode of life. It is different here. We have grounds in the middle of our cities. We can play a faster game. As long as we keep our game democratic, so that the man in the street can get a game and enjoy it, we are doing the players and tho game a lot of good. The spirit in New Zealand on tho whole is good.” "BUGBEAR OF CLUBS.” "These multitudinous rules are tho bugbear of the clubs,” said Mr H. 0. Harrison (Sydenham). "If a man is registered as a player with the union, that should be sufficient. The clubs can be trusted.” "We are getting right off the subject,” said the chairman, Mr A. E, McPhail. "We have a tremendous number of players under our control. The conditions are far different from those in England. It is fine and Utopian in the thory, but it may not work in practice. Certain aspects of the proposition might be entertained, but we should indulge in nothing so sweeping as is proposed. "I may say that New Zealand will never get the legislation they hope from the International Board. Wc are too far away here, and our conditions aro too different for tho English body to modify its rulings to suit us. We must do our duty here by the players and tho boys. We cannot do any better than that.” DANGEROUS RESTRICTIONS. "Speaking as one of the oldest hands, I can’t say how pleased I am to hear a man like Mr Wilson make such a proposition,” said Mr A. E. Flower. "When I first came to the committee, I was struck with the amount of legislation which hedged the game around. Many little points annoy me. I can’t see, for instance, why a player should have to stand on tho bank because he has played three games in a certain grade. Mr Wilson is not merely Utopian. He is sounding a warning note at a very opportune moment. Too much restriction means danger. Mr Wilson said that it was essential to have rules, but in hedging themselves in they were breeding mistrust. "I don’t say we should ape England,” said Mr Wilson, "but I do say ■we. should get together and got more fun out of the game.’” The motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.