FOOTBALL BREACH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19677, 1 July 1927, Page 14

FOOTBALL BREACH.

POMJNION AND ENGLAND.

LEAGUE COUNCIL DECISION.

AUSTRALIAN PROTEST ENDORSED

CANCELLING NEXT YEAR'S TOUR

The council of the New Zealand Rugby JliCague at its meeting last evening received its first official intimation of the jremoval by the English Rugby League of the residential qualification. After a lengthy discussion it was reSolvod to endorse the protest of tho Australian Board of Control, to enter -into negotiations with Australia on tho question of the advisability of cancelling the English tour in 1928, and to withdraw the invitation extended to tho English team to visit New Zealand. A further resolution that a representative should at «nee be appointed to tho Australian JSoi'fd of Control in Sydney was defeated.

Mr. C. A. Snedden, who presided over a full attendance of delegates, read the official cablegram as follows: "Two years' agreement terminated from June 18. Decision of annual meeting. Wilson." Mr. Snedden said it was now in the Jjandis of the league to take a definite stand, as the removal of the agreement Jiad. left New Zealand without an overtefts transfer rule. The position was too *bsurd altogether. /.

Severance of Relations. Mr. E. Stallworthy agreed that New Zealand should join with Australia in an effort to defeat the English League's policy of taking away from them their test players. The English team would visit New Zealand next season, and agents .would undoubtedly approach any promising' players with offers to go Home. •' Let us go further and suggest to the, Australian Board of Control that New Zealand is prepared to consider the complete severance of relations with the English League, even going as far as coneelling the proposed . tour," Mr. Stallworthy said. '• ■

Mr. F. O'Connor favoured ,the suggestion of the Queensland League to induce Dominion players to stay in.New Zealand !>y arranging tours to Australia every second year. New Zealand could carry on without England's assistance. He suggested that steps should be taken immediately to link up with the Australian Board of Control. f

Position of L. Brown. L. Brown, who has loft Auckland for .Wellington on his way to England, wrote itating the altered conditions of the residential ban now made it clear to him that 4e was free to play in England.

On the motion of Mr. Snedden it was sledded to notify Brown in the following terms: "That there is no provision in our rules dealing with the removing of tho two years' qualification overseas, and 8s far a3 the New Zealand Council is concerned the position is unaltered."