RUGBY LEAGUE FINANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20655, 29 August 1930, Page 14

RUGBY LEAGUE FINANCE.

PAYMENT TO CLUBS. [PROPOSALS OF CONFERENCE. FUTURE CONTROL OF GAME. REDUCTION IN SENIOR TEAMS. Recommendations that a percentage of tjie gato takings received by the Auckland faigby Leaguo should he paid direct to tho clubs for organisation purposes and (hat. the. number of senior teams in Auckland' should bo reduced from eight to six, with a reserve grade replacing tho senior grade Ti, were made at a conference held last• evening to consider the future control of tho Leaguo game in Auckland. ,Tho conference was betwepn special committees appointed bv tho management committee of tho Auckland Leaguo and the New Zealand Council. Mr. G. Rhodes presided. In' outlining tho proposals placed before the conference, Mr. Rhodes said ho did not want any hint of professionalism to creep into the game, in Auckland. Tho main points to bo considered were tho standard of play and tho means whereby it could be raised. It was generally agreed that the standard of League football had fallen considerably in recent years and/this had had a marked effect on the gate receipts. Question of Payment. According to Mr. E. Stallworthy, the tiumber of senior grade clubs was far too liigh. There were not 130 first-class senior players in Auckland and he thought that,\ if the number of senior teams was reduced to six, competition among players would bo keener. Each club could have its reserve team, playing competition jmatchcs in a special reservo grade. Dealing with the question of payment to clubs, Mr. A. Ferguson said that to get tho best results payment should bo mado direct to players. Ho was supported by Mr. A. McClymont. This suggestion was strongly opposed by several speakers, Mr. Rhodes reiterating that ho did not wish any hint of professionalism to creep into tho game. Mr. -W, J. Davidson said payment to players would certainly bring tho game into disfavour with a public brought up on amateur sport.

Tho main questions of payment to clubs and the number of senior teams were dis-' cussed for two hours beforo it was decided to make recommendations to the management committee of tho Auckland League. It was also decided that all senior clubs should be notified of the recommendations beforo any action was taken. Effect on Teams. It the recommendations of the conference are carried into effect next year, tho six sraior clubs will receive a percentage of th) gate receipts. No decision has been made with regard to tho actual percentage, but it nas been suggested that 20 per cent, should be the figure. The average gate at Carlaw Park during the past two seasons has boon about £l5O for a /club Saturday. This would give a weekly sum of about £3O for division among the senior clubs—too small a figure for payment to be made to players. However, it would enable the clubs to organise their activities in an attempt to improve the standard of play. Tho provision for only six senior teams and the suggested abandonment of senior E grade would affect a number of clubs. Two senior clubs would disappear and five of the six senior B clubs would have to field only junior teams. There would be a possible exception in tho caso of the Richmond Club, which has a senior and a senior B team at present. However, senior B grade plajers would have the right of transfer to senior clubs and would be able to play in either the proposed senior or reserve grades.