A PAMPERED AGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 13

A PAMPERED AGE

RUGBY UNION PLAYERS

CRITICISM OF PRACTICE CONTRAST WITH EARLY DAYS [BY telegraph—OWN correspondent] DARGAVILLE, Thursday Strong criticism of players who needed pampering in order to induce them to play was expressed at the annual meeting of the Northern Wairoa Rugby Union, when a remit from the Kaihu Valley Club asking that the travelling expenses of a representative be paid to and from Dargaville was under discussion.

The president, Mr. W. Montgomery, suggested that the remit should be amended to allow for the union to arrange the transportation. The difficulty experienced in the past had been that players sometimes used expensive means of travel.

" Players are getting too greed v." said Mr. W. A. T. Underwood. " They want to be packed up along with their young ladies and brought to the ground, and then they will play with great gusto. In the old days players rode or walked many miles to see a game and to play."

Mr. P. Bryden said the downfall of the Rugby Union had been the paying of players' expenses. In the earlier days there had been no such thing as expenses, but when money became plentiful expenses had been paid and had become n heavy burden now. It was sometimes a hardship for players to find their own expenses. If the union could see its way clear to pay some expenses it would be a great help. Mr. S. Batger said one or two enthusiasts in Kaihu were putting their hands in their pockets all the time to help players to travel, and it was not right that they should be left to foot the bill.

" In other clays, when players rode and walked, no complaints were made, and I do not think they should be pampered now," said Mr. P. Hemphill. "If they can't find the small expenses involved they should stay at home aud not play." The motion was defeated by a large majority.