LOSSES TO SPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21553, 26 July 1933, Page 14

LOSSES TO SPORT

LURE OF PROFESSIONALISM ft NEW ZEALANDERS IN ENGLAND The acceptance by G. D. Imios, the Canterbury and Now Zealand Rugby football representative, of an offer by Wigan League Club, of England, draws attention once again l to . the drain on the young players of the Dominion, both in cricket and football, /by the attractions of English professionalism, says a Christchurch writer. Canterbury has been especially unlucky, recent, josses being those of Roberts, Merritt and Cromb,. and now Jnne.s. . . "The amateur game is tho only ono that can last." said Mr. A. E. Mc'Phail, president of the Canterbury and Now Zealand Rugby Unions, when interviewed on the subject. "A player J/as every right to go over to professionalism if he wishes to, and the matter of offering any inducement for such a player to remain is out of the question. Jt would be better for half of them to go over than, to, deviate from tlie amateur policy in that way." 'There are keen supporters of sport who take an interest in the players find, should a young fellow find himself in hard circumstances,., isc influence to find him sumo position. That has happened in many instances in tho past, but there are not so many jobs pvaiiable those days, and the inducement to leave the country: to take up a reasonably lucrative professional engagement is very strong- Unless a young man is fortunately circumstanced, it is hard to seoil* gooij reason why, in fairness to -himself, ho jdiould refuse a eood offer.