FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3505, 6 August 1898, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE PROPOSED FEDERATION.

Writing on the subject of the proposed football federation, a Carterton correspondent, ‘’Mao,” says:—“ Ihe remarks in this morning’s * Times ’ in reference to a Wellington provincial football team are a step iu the right direction; not, howerer, because the Empire City has sustained two beatings, but that it would be the means of fostering the came throughout the district. If you are going to piok men from Manawatu and Wairarapa, you must have them in Wellington at least a week before the match takes place. Otherwise there will be no combination to speak of Ihe Auckland Union does this, but then they MUvo any amount of money to pay the expenses of the .ountry players However, it is too late to talk of this at the end of the season. At present Wellington would find Wrigley a good, serviceable man either at full-baok or centra three-quarter, and L). Udy and R. Gray would be of service in the forward division These three Wairarapa men would strengthen our team. Wellington bad a bad start last year, opd it is the same this year, hot they may come out ahead of it after all. There is only one team that has a chance of beating them again this season, and that is Otago So let our . men pnll themselves together and wade in I wish I was as confident of getting rid of rheumatism as lam that Wellington will have a clean sheet in the remaining five matches.” The “ Wairarapa Star ” devotes a leader to the subject of “Football Federation,” referred to in these columns a few days ago. The “ Star,” after referring fajtly and critically to the subject,says;—“The best basis would be that Wairarapa retain their present position as an independent body.” This is exactly what the Wellington Union proposes. It was never intended in any way to interfere with the independence of the country unions. In suggesting that the representative match between Wellington and Wairarapa should be played earlier in the season, and “ then a conjoint team would bo selected to represent the Wellington province,” the “Star” has anticipated the proposal of the Wellington Union. Assuming that the “Star” is speaking with some authority, it would appear that the way is paved for the federation of Wellington provincial football.

The Poneke-Old Boys heat for the Thirdclass championship, arranged to bo played on the Wellington College ground, will not take place to day.