FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

I ENGLISH RUGBY UNION. I ! NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE. [ITvOV OlTl OWN* COBBKSPONDENT ] London', November 18. A position full of interest to New Zealand has arisen in connection, with the committee of the Rugby Union. For administrative purposes, England is mapped out into districts, generally containing a croup of counties and a certain number of clubs, and each group ban a member on the committee. Oxford and Cambridge Universities each constitute a group and have representation accordingly. The southern counties, at tho time of the grouping, v,' '?, not, of imtoh account in the Rugby world. They formed a sort of loose end in the scheme, and with them, to make up a complement, was brigaded the New Zealand Rugby Union, which incidentally controls about as many clubs and players as the whole of the English Union. It wis purely as a courtesy to New Zealand football that Now Zealand was granted this joint representation with tho southern counties. Recently Mr. Aston, tho gentleman who represented tins district on the committee, having accepted a position which makes greater demands on his time, tendered his resignation. The question of filling the vacancy disclosed tho fact, that New Zealand was entitled to a voice in the nomination of the successor. Dr. A. K. Newman, tho president of the Now Zealand Union, happens to bo in England, and when the matter came before him he at once nominated Mr. C. AVray Palliser (who has for years acted as the unofficial representative of tho New Zealand Union in England). Tho nomination has come, as a thunderclap to the union. On personal grounds it has been received with the utmost cordiality, since Mr. Palliser's relations with tho union have always been of tho best, but the questions raised are so grave, especially in view of the strained relations be- j twee a tho English and tho Scottish Unions (who are estranged on the interpretation of I professionalism), that the manner of dealing with the nomination will be- watched with keen interest. Needless to say, Mr. Palliser's appointment, would tend inestimably to improve the relations between the English and New Zealand Unions.

The other parties interested in tho representation of tho southern counties may, of course, make other nominations, and so necessitate an election.