THE FOOTBALL QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13451, 30 May 1907, Page 6

THE FOOTBALL QUESTION.

THE AUCKLAND PLAYERS SIGN. THE DECLARATION AMENDED. . The dispute between the 12. Auckland football representatives and the New Zealand Rugby Union hag been settled as far as the men are concerned.. These players, I who refused on Saturday, signed the declaration last evening. The players in question met at the Amateur Sports' Club, and after going thoroughly into the dispute, called Mr. V. Langsford, the secretary of the local Rugby Union in. Mr. Langsford explained - - the - position, and pointed out the necessity for the New Zealand Union taking up the attitude they had in requesting all the representative footballers of- the colony to sign the declaration. , '•

': The "AH Black" players pointed out that they had objected on Saturday, because they could not conscientiously sign the declaration, inasmuch as when on the tour in Great Britain, they had received moneys , from the New Zealand Union itself. It was also explained that those of the 12 who had not been members of the "All Black" team, had not signed because they realised the-position of the New Zealand representatives.

Mr. Langsford then added a -clause to the declaration which removed the risk the players thought they were; running. This clause then read that they had never received any moneys " except moneys received by members of the 'AH Black' team from the New Zealand Union during the, tour of the New Zealanders to Great Britain." 1 ,•"'-". ' '"',

With . this amendment all 12 players signed the declaration. They also framed and signed a letter to the New Zealand Union in which they pointed out that they had ; never in their long service abused the confidence placed in them, and also expressed the opinion that the step taken was uncalled for in their case. ■* .

None of these players will be' able to play in the North Island team,', but when the declarations are accepted by the union,; they will be eligible for future "rep.", matches. ~, ' , -

OUTLINE OF THE ORIGINAL • SCHEME. "' *■ ;J ' • [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] DtrNEDiN, Wednesday. The Star says a letter was written last January to 28 secretaries of the Northern Union (England) in which, it was promised that a better combination than the original "All Blacks". 'hould be sent Home. Thi3 emanated from a Wellington player who looked forward to becoming assistant-mana-ger'of {the",' team, advertising agent,: press reporter, etc., and now his much cherished hope is doubtful of realisation. What took place may thus be outlined., According. to the Star's information the team was to consist of 25 players, and 'they- would play for six months, as against three , months by the "All Blacks.", Then there was a I chance of them playing there several seasons from joining some of the clubs ;at Home. They could, put in the summer by appearing at some of the big sports ! meetings, and they might possibly take from £10,000 to £20,000 in their first-football season This player, who took upon himself the work of. opening up. negotiations, and another had a good team in their eye.

All this time many of omvmost'ptftminent players, (some of them " All .Blacks") were prepared to go, but there were a few whom it was not considered wise > to approach right away. The only trouble ; was that.there might be too many appearing. The next point which had to be considered was the question of financing the: team Home, but this was to be easily fixed up by the wealthier players' putting down sufficient money, 4 some £200, and others £50, to see them all through. All the profits, at Home were to be divided among the players and if the full amount required for the passages, of the team could not be raised, the issuing of a- few debentures would see everything all'right. . • <.■''..

The quickest route-Homo would ' be through the Suez Canal, and then a'gain it would be more enjoyable, but ■it also had another advantage, tliat those "members of the team selected to visit Australia next month could take part in matches there, and a few days after the last match catch an Orient liner for Home. All final arrangements could be fixed up in Christchurch next month, on the occasion of .the North v. South Island match. • But this, is where the New Zealand Union stepped in with their bombshell declaration. This declaration must have caused quite a stir in the camp in Wellington, coining just at the time when all seemed clear for wiring the date of the /commencement of. the tour through England. At a meeting, 1 '- which was to be held in Christchurch, the, manager , was, to be . appointed . and a selection committee elected to- finally; ohoose the team from the SO who were willing' to go. This number 1 must now be materially reduced. V ■}~.■ -,.■■'.. ■<■: • •

:■.;> A WANGANUI PLAYER. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIA'ttOJJ:.;] ' Waxgaxth, Wednesday. It has been generally reported that H. L. Abbott, of Wanganui, a member of the "AH Black" team refused to sign the affidavit respecting professionalism. The secretary of the Wanganui Rugby Union tonight telegraphed to the secretary 'of, the New Zealand Rugby Union. as follows :— "Abbott has been -ill, I have now got his affidavit, which I am forwarding today-"

THE COMING BRITISH TEAM. REFERENCE TO PROFESSIONALISM. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] : Wellington, Wednesday. According to a letter received by the' Management Committee of the New Zea- ; land Rugby Union from Mr. C. Wray Pal-, User, the union's representative on , the, English Rugby Union, New Zealand footballers and the public will have something: to look forward to next season. Mr. Fal- j liser states that there is every prospect of another English Rugby team coming out to the colony next season. The matter was well tinder way when the letter was written, and it was anticipated that.. an announcement would be made about tho end of May. i ' It has been rumoured that the affairs, of the professional clubs in the North of England have not been nourishing of late, and that to • this state of things was due the anxiety of the Northern Union to get a! New'.,Zealand professional team to visit England. An extract from a. letter from Mr. ■ C. Wray Palliser. \ seems to bear this out to some extent. 1 Mr. Palliser says that the Bradford Club, one of. the largest Northern Union clubs, has , recently ceased to exist, not being able to

carry on through lack ? ot-support. The professional club's ground has been taken over;by an amateur Rugby club. - Writing in- an English paper in reference to the difference between the rules of the Northern; Union and the New Zealand Rugby code, Mr. J. H. Smith, an ex-pre-sident of the Northern Union concludes : — i" After considering the question m all its | bearings, I contend that the want of unijformity in the two codes is insufficient to j place any serious obstacle in the way of i capable Rugby Union exponents giving ns lof their best, and the Northern Union officials have no misgivings on that recount. I The point they are most anxious. about is that a team thoroughly representative of j New Zealand football can be brought over !to the Motherland to try their strength against professionals. In playing against our teams they would be called upon to i oppose men as well trained as themselves, .and if the playing strength of the Northern i Union' 's as good as we think it is, it will irequire a team quite equal to the last 'All j Black' team to achieve success. Indeed, the governors of the Northern Union.would wish nothing better than'. that a, goodly proportion of the previous team should again make the journey."

It will thus be seen that a full strength j team will have to be got away to satisfr the Northern Union requirements.