LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25164, 29 March 1945, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

SEASON, IN AUCKLAND

INCREASED GATE TAKINGS "The Rugby League code has lived through a very trying time, and last year's record was one to be proud of," said Mr J. F. W. Dickson, who presided at the annual meeting of the Aucidand Rugby League last evening. The gate receipts from club matches revealed a fine response from the Auckland public. The chairman of the Auckland league, Mr J. W. Watson, who presented the thirty-fifth annual report, said the 194-1 season was a record in the history of the code, and the standard of football was very high. The splendid financial position was, achieved in spite of an unusually wet season. The revenue was £51295, and an increase of £975 on ]943 season. The financial report stated that the working expenses showed an increase of £■l77 over other years. Club percentages totalled £77'2, insurance to players £172, and grants to injured players £230. The principal revenue items were:—Grandstand receipts for club matches, £679; gate receipts for club matches, £3539. Revenue from two minor representative games totalled £lO5. The total assets were £11,007, which spoke volumes for the progress of the code. Investments in war loans amounted to £IO9O. The -report added that, in spite of wet grounds, the standard of play in the senior grade, was high and there was every reason to anticipate a splendid coming season. Special reference was made to the co-opera-tion of the senior club officers' association, which performed excellent service in the interest of the code. The disabled players" fund, controlled by this body; now amounted to over £2OOO. Mr Watson referred to the deplorable shortage of playing grounds, saying that at the present moment there was no indication that a single ground occupied by the Army authorities would be made available this season, or even next year. The civic authorities, he said, had shown lack of foresight in the provision of grounds for a healthy recreation, arid the war conditions could not altogether he blamed for the acute shortage. Last season the junior competitions had to be curtailed owing to the grounds shortage and this was a deplorable state of affairs. While the financial position was healthy Mr Watson said that "a note of caution was necessary. It was the intention of the control board to improve the condition of the terraces at Carlaw Park and the concrete work would be put'in hand once the building restrictions were lifted. Regarding the entrance to Carlaw Park, the chairman said this was an urgent matter, and it was proposed to rebuild the gate entrances in the form of a memorial to fallen soldiers, and to a number of past officials. It was further proposed to construct rooms for the future home of the management committee. Mr Dickson paid a tribute to tho services of the late Mr Grey Campbell. He said tho League code has lost one of its greatest members, whose memory would be long cherished by all Auckland citizens. In advocating more representative matches in Auckland, Mr Dickson said the financial success of such games should not be any consideration. Mr J. A. Redwood, president of the New Zealand Rugby League, gave details ot a recent conference In Wellington and said! the prospects in the coming season were bright. Mr Redwood said tin? Auckland Rugby League was to be congratulated on pre-arranging a representative programme for this season. The newly-elected president, Mr E. J. Osborne, paid a tribute to the splendid management of the code, and wished the game every success in the future. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr J. B. Donald; vice-patron, Mr J. F. W. Dickson; president, Mr. E. J. Osborne; senior clubs' delegates, Messrs J. Clark, W. J. Probert, M. Horari, D. '.S'flkie; referees' delegate, Mr W. Mincharn; trustees, Messrs J. W. Watson, E. J. Phelan, AStormont; auditors, Messrs Carrard and Bennett; lion, solicitor, Mr H. M. Rogerson;; delegate to New Zealand League, Mr R. Doble-, hon. secretary, Mr I. Culpan; chairman, Mr J. W. Watson; deputy-chairman, Mr Doble. It was decided to open the season on April 14, nominations closing on April 4. HOLIDAY SPORTS TENNIS AND BOWLING The main Easter sports attractions in Auckland will be the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's annual tournament and tho Auckland Bowling ,Association's annual fours tourney, which comprises executive, Easter, intermediate and first-year players competitions. Yachtsmen will catered for by two racee to Coromandel. Both of these will start at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow. Over 200 competitors have entered for the tennis tournament which commences at 8.30 a.m. tomorrow. The first and second sections will play at Stanley Street. The third section will be at Windmill Road tomorrow only. Many well-known players are contesting the senior division, among these being X. V. Edwards (New Zealand and Ilawke's Bay singles championl, E. A. Roussell (New Zealand doubles champion), W. T. Pountney (Taranaki singles champion), J. A. Barry (New Zealand junior and .Auckland junior singles champion). Miss E. G. Attwood (Auckland champion), Miss J. Hansen arid Mrs P. Smith (Auckland doubles champions), Miss L. Adams (19-14 Easter champion), Miss R. Hodges (Auckland intermediate champion) and Miss H. Redwood (Auckland iunioir champion). Matches will continue every day at Stanley Street until Easter Monday, when all finals are expected to bo staffed. The frowling tournament will commence tomorrow on city and suburban greens at 8.45 a.m. and will continue throughout the holiday period. The growing popularity of the game is evidenced by the fact that there are 42 first-year players' teams taking part on this occasion, compared with 24 last year. EASTER GOLF TOURNEY Combined Clubs.—The Akarana and Maungakiekie clubs will hold an Easter tournament, commencing on Saturday morning. The draw is:—B.3s, H. L. G-ibbs, D. B. Edmonds, R. Hay, C. M. Berkley; 8.40, A. V. Hard ley, H. Gibbs, J. H. Earle, W. 0. Clavis; 8.45, A. Birkenhead, A. Wyriess, H. Valentine, C. Goldfinch; 8.50, M. kiely, N. Robertson, A, Dickenson, V. Snick; 8.55, P. Buckler, G. Tyndall, A. Marshall, H. F. Schoen; 9.00, A. N. Young, W. .Tones, E. W. Young, A. C. Steele; 9.5, D. Co.vie, S. E. Chappell, J. Stewart, D. Merryweather; 9.10, J. Tanner. H. W. Fisher, D. F. MacCormick, D. L. McKay; 9.15, C. P. Rosser, N. C. Laud. H. W. Carbnry, 8. Stephenson; 9.20, W. G. Crouch, A. Smeliie. E, Lash, ,T. N. feissett; 9.25, eJ. 0. Hume, E, D. Williams, R. E. Fawcett, B. E. Parker; 9.30, A. J. S. Browne, J. D. Todd, C, W. Russell, S. Barclay; 9.35, C. Green, R. Cross, A. R. Brett, G. D. Butter; 9.40, C. R. Woollams, A. 0. Horspool North Shore Ladles. —The. mid-week players opened the season yesterday with Stahlerord foursomea, the result being:—Mrs E. Blount nnd Mrs E. Stehr, 35; Mrs W. Houghton and Miss A. O'Neill, Miw L. Blair and Mrs Holloway, 33. Waltemata Ladles.—Flag match: Mrs D. Chubb carried the flag to fho 18th green. C gTade: Mrs R- Kenning®. ! AMATEUR ATHLETICS The Auckland .Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club conclnded it« track season at the Outer Domain last- evening, the Victor Ludorum Cup competitions being held over until a suitable Saturday in May. A special 100 yards race was decided with those exceptionally fine runners D. M. Harris (club captain) and R. Agate (vice-captain) on scratch. The various trials in which they have taken part were the highlights of the athletic year. In most events the winning margin was small, but the honours rested with Agate, who recorded 9 4-5s for the 100 yards on two occasions. Running against the stiff, breeze last evening the scratch pair were narrowly defeated by the St. Patrick Cup victor, J. F. Watson. The result was: J. P. Watson, 7yds, 1; D. M. Harris, scr, 2; R. Agato, scr, 3. Won by a bare half-yard; a foot between second and third. Time, 10s. ! CRICKETER ON TOUR A message from Sydney states that WingCominander P. G. TI. Fender, of the Royal Air Force, a fornier English Test cricketer, is visiting Australia on administrative duties. He has been in the R.A.F. since the outbreak, having joined as a pilot-officer. Wing-Com-mander Fender flew in the R.F.C. iri the last war. Since the outbreak of this war his cricket has been limited to four half-day matches. WOOL FOR EUROPE RESUMPTION OF EXPORTS (Special Correspondent) LONDON, March 27 The possib-lity of (he commercial export of wool from Briiain and the Dominions to Continental Europe appears to be foreshadowed by a Wool Control questionnaire to the trade here calling for returns from individual firms of their pre-war exports of wool to separate European countries. The information asked for includes pre-war shipment.- from Britain ami pre-war shipments to Europe from the Dominions made by British firms acting as principals. The wartime custom here is for export allocations to individual firms to be made cm the basis of their pre-war activity in a particular market. This applies to yarns and cloth arid it is believed will apply to wool when permitted exports are resumed. Very little wool has been exported from Britain during the war as there could be little wartime justification for bringing wool here from distant Dominions to export in the existing state or after a little manipulation. Most of the war-time-exports of Dominion wool therefore have been direct from the country of production (o the country of importation on shipping economy grounds, but it is conceivable that as the war clouds lift there will be an increasing need to restore all the former channels of wool distribution, and the United Kingdom spot market is of enormous importance to Europe. United Stales' estimates received here calculate the present world carry-over of wool is equal to one year's normal world consumption, with 75 per cent held in the British Empire and Ihe remainder in South America. Official statistics are not published here under war conditions, hut the British wool textile industry is not unduly apprehensive concerning world surpluses, believing that the world demand will make substantial inroads into any accumulations and that the ordered disposal of the remainder can be arranged without undermining the outlook for the Dominions' wool industry.