LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24231, 24 March 1942, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

THE GAME IN AUCKLAND PROFIT DURING LAST SEASON The report and balance-sheot to be presented to the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby League to-morrow evening show that a profit of £309 was made last season. The war made 6erious inroads among the players, while in other directions, Rugby Jl,eague played its part in the war effort of New Zealand. Since the commencement of the war, Carlaw Park has, without cost, been placed at the disposal of many essential units engaged in war activities. The club championship was won by North Shore, which also won the Rukutai Shield. The champion of champions match for the Stormont Shield was won by Manukau, which also was presented with the Thistle Cup. The Dick6on medals, presented by Mr. J. F. W. Dickson, for the most sportsmanlike player, were won by G. Mitchell 'Richmond), senior competition, and in the junior competition by R. Martin (Otahuhu fifth grade). It is with regret that the death is recorded of Mr. R. A. Spinley, who was secretary of the league from • 1914 to 1917 and auditor from 1920 to 1941, and of C. Brockliss, a player of the Newton Club, and later a member of the board of control. In spite of the enlistment of over 10 per cent of the' Referees'; Association membership to either the Army or the Air Force, and in spite of the fact that many of the members were engaged in war production work, and employed on Saturdays, matches during the 1941 season were controlled with yery little inconvenience. This performance was the more meritorious when it was realised that on occasions some members refereed no fewer than three matches on one Saturday. Many letters of appreciation of the work of the ladies' committee had been received by the board. Besides visiting and assisting injured players, this committee contributed the sum of £35 in cash donations to the injured players' fund. The. treasurer's report shows ; a satisfactory position, considering the times of stress through which the country was passing. An analysis of the accounts shows that the financial surplus was £309, as against £399 the previous year. The main source of revenue, gate, grandstand and representative proceeds, has dropped from £4486 to £3923, a decrease of £563. Ground rent showed a drop of £ll2, which was chiefly due to the considerable reduction in charges by the Auckland City Council. Payments to players and doctors showed a decrease of £llO, due to the infrequency of serious accidents. The assets amounted to nearly £10,600, and the liabilities to the bank, creditors and associated bodies totalled £1869, a decrease of £617 on the previous year.