DOMINION RUGBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 15

DOMINION RUGBY

PROPAGANDA BY LEAGUE * STATUS OF THE TWO GAMES A STATEMENT CHALLENGED [nY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT J WELLINGTON. Sunday The claim mentioned in the cabled report froin Sydney this week that it would not bti long before the whole of tho North Island would be consolidated into League football, has not been allowed to pass unchallenged. Mr. J. H. Mostyn, manager of the .St. George League team which returned to Sydney recently from a brief visit to New Zealand, viewed the outlook hopefully, but since his team's tour did not embrace anj-thinp; like the whole of the North Island, h;t alone New Zealand, the opportunity of determining accurately the real position of the League game, as compared with that of Now Zealand's national game, was limited. It was not surprising, therefore, to find the chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. S. S. Dean, challenging tho accuracy of the position as presented at the meeting in Sydney. Apart from stating that the position had been grossly exaggerated, Mr. Dean claims in return that the League game has received some setbacks and that the work of propagandists has had disappointing results. "Mr. Mostyn's statement grossly exaggerates the position." stated Mr. Dean. "The wish is no doubt father to tho thought when he states that it would not be long before the whole of the North Island would be consolidated into Rugby League. Although tho League game was played again after many years at both New Plymouth and Napier it suffered a setback in .Wellington and in the Waikato district and in other districts in the North Island, as well as a very severe setback in tho South Island.

"Mr. Mostyn clearly does not understand the temperament of New Zealanders and their wholehearted and loyal support of the Rugby code. New Zealanders are proud of the success achieved in the past by their representative teams, on fields overseas and, through the continued support accorded, there is no doubt that the prestige of Rugby in the Dominions will bo maintained.

"A lot of propaganda has been indulged in by the League authorities in Auckland in their efforts to win over players from the Rugby code, but the result of their efforts must be a sad disappointment to them and is well known to followers of the Rugby game in the Dominion."