FINANCING BUSH UNION’S TOUR

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 8

FINANCING BUSH UNION’S TOUR

N.Z.R.F.U. Afraid of Creaiing a Precedent

WHY NOT JOIN UP WITH MANAWHENUA ?

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, June 8.

‘ 1 This opens up a big question. If W 6 aro going to give linuncial assistance to every minor union we shall be undertaking a large task, and shall very soon run our funds right out. With these words Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of tho Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, greeted an application by tho Bush Rugby Union for financial help. The request of the Bush Union came about through their desire to despatch a touring team to the north. In the past, stated the Secretary (Mr. S. K. Siddells), they had managed to pay their way through these tours through asking each player to contribute £5 or £6, but this, they felt was not right. The total cost of the present tour they worked out at about £lB9, though it might bo a pound or two less, and towards this the Wanganui Union had promised £25, Waikato £25 and Thames Valley £ls. The King Country Union, tho fourth body which they were to visit, was unable to give any assistance. They possessed £IOO on fixed deposit which they were unable to touch, and £IOO in the Post Office Savings Bank. Without some financial sistance the tour was an impossibility. Tho matter had been raised at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union and had been adjourned, said Mr. Dean. Tho Bush Union had been asked to submit their proposals and now that they had done so did not say what they wanted. Mr. H. S. Leith: That statement shows what they want. - Mr-,Dean: If they have only £IOO it looks as if they aro £IOO on the wrong side. . . Mr. Leith: The tour moans wiping their credit right out. Mr. E. S. Wylie: I move that they bo granted a £2O maximum. Mr, A. .C. Kitto objected that this would establish a precedent. “If this Union is going to assist all small unions wo are going to be well down, he said.

Mr. Dean; I think that it is quite a good thing to assist these small unions. -At present wo have a fair amount of money, but this is lent out at a low' rate of interest and there is not a great deal of ready money. Mr. Wylie: Of epurso the Bush Un.on is not an isolatcd body; it is in everybody’s track. Mr. Leith: It is quite obvious that they cannot undertake this tour without finance, but it seems to mo a little ambitious.

Mr. E. McKenzie: They are trying to get'those teams they are visiting back. '

Mr. Leith: One hundred pounds is out of the question. Mr. Doan: Yes, we can give them £25.

Mr. McKenzie thought that they should ask the Bush Union just what they wanted. Mr. A. C. Kitto; But the trouble is that they won’t know whether the tour is on or off. Mr. Dean: These tours are doing a certain amount of good. The question is how far wo can go. If we are going to assist every minor union on tour it means that we shall have no funds at all and be powerless to help the major unions. The best that Bush can do is to follow the example of Horowhenua and join up with Manawatu.

Mr. Wylie: There are three unions that they could join up with readily— Wairarapa Hawke’s Bay and ManaWhcnua.

Mr. McKenzie: They’ll never do it.

It was decided to grant the Bush Union £25 towards the cost of its northern tour.