FOOTBALL AND WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15916, 13 May 1915, Page 9

FOOTBALL AND WAR.

TOUR ABANDONED.'

Rt'GBY LEAGUE DECISION,

The invitation to the Now Zealand Rugby League to send a team to tour New South Wales during this season was discussed at the annual meeting of the league held la<st night. The president. Mr. James Carlaw, said that the month of June had been proposed for the visit of the team, but the New Zealand League replied stating that it could not send a team in June and suggesting the month of August instead. The council had decided. should this latter date be accepted, to devote the whole of the profit* accruinir from the tour to the Belgian Relief Fund. A teWi'am had been received from New South Wales adhering to the month of June for the visit of the team and the probability therefore was that the proposed tour would be abandoned.

Mr. R. McDonald declared that the Auckland League was unanimously opposed to the tour. There had been a struggle to get the teams together and the tour would take the best men away for the season. They thought that the' New Zealand League should consider the other leagues on this point as the latter were in touch with Jootball matters at the different, central. The Auckland League felt rather hurt that it had not been considered.

The president said that the matter was so far in embryo. At the same time lie did not think the question of taking " star" players away from their clubs should come into the question at all. The dignity and prestige of the New Zealand League as a body should be the first consideration. The council of the league recognised that some of the Auckland players would have to go. yet he ventured to say that those lemaining would provide as big a " draw." The council of the league met subsequently, and derided to abandon the proposed tour on the ground that the date proposed by New South Wales was unsuitable.