LEAGUE STARTED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8129, 24 May 1912, Page 3

LEAGUE STARTED

NORTHERN UNION FOOTBALL FOUR TEAMS ENTERED. At a meeting of considerably over 100 Northern Union Football League supporters, held in the Trades Hall lost evening, it was unanimously decided to form a provincial league in Wellington. Mr H. R. Wright, who presided, moved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived to establish the Wellington Provincial Rugby Football League, to be affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby League/’ Mr G, Gillett, organiser of the Northern Union League, said unless a league were formed in Wellington interest in the game would wane. The New Zealand League was willing to assist Wellington in the matter of advice and finance. The Northern Union game was superior to the Rugby game, in that the brutal element was absent—-(hear, hear) —and from the epee tutorial standpoint. The reason why Rugby had deteriorated was duo to tho players and tho public not being considered. There was money in the New Zealand League purse to enable grounds to be obtained. Mr T. O’Farrell did not see why New Zealand should not hold its own with New South Wales, because it had .the players and the money. In Sydney press opposition had been overcome, out in Wellington he was glad to see that tho press were, in a degree in sympathy with the league game. Mr A. Rosser, vice-president of the Northern Union League in Auckland, hoped those present would use their proper efforts to put the Rugby game upon a proper plane. The motion was carried unanimously. In'reply to'a question as to whether men who played the league game on Saturday afternoons received monetary remuneration, Mr Gillett stated that the rules provided that nobody should get any recompense whatever . while ho was playing in bin leisure time, and for Saturday afternoons no man drew anything. Men were only paid when they were on tour and were losing wages. They would get tho equivalent of their wages when on tour and nothing else. Any man that relied on receiving money enough to keep him in the game would be making a great mistake. Regarding grounds, Mr Gillett reported that the ground bogey for this season iifould he done away with. _ ' Officers were elected as follows: —President, the Mayor,*Mr D. McLaren; vicepresidents. Messrs M. J. Reardon, H. R. Wright, H. J. Palmer. Aitken, T. M. Wilford, M.P., E. L. Barnes, D. Sullivan. W. Jorgenson, M. J. Donnelly, F. McFarland, T. O’Farrell, H. Senior, A. Law, A. H. Hindmarsh, R. Dwyer; secretary (pro. tem.), Mr T. O’Farrell f committee, Messrs D. Miller, Q. Blacker. M. J. Reardon, J, Wray, D. G. Fraser, S. Brice, W. Masterson. Nominations were received from four/ clubs, and it was decided to commence training immediately. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Gil-

lett 'for his energy in pushing forward the league game in Wellington. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. It was announced that arrangements have been made for- a series of representative matches to bo played between WeUington, Nelson, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Auckland, and Wanganui this year. In addition, a match would be played between New South Wales and Wellington, and in all probability there would be a New Zealand versus New South Wales match played in Wellington. A touring team would be sent from New Zealand to New South Wales during the season. This would be before the match with New South Wales took place in Wellington. Nelson was desirous of sending a team here on June Bth. APPLICATION FOB USE OP NEWTOWN PARK. . A deputation representing the league, and comprising Messrs M. J. Reardon and G. Gillett, asked the' reserve committee of the city council yesterday for the use of tho Newtown Park on one Saturday later in the season for the purpose of an interstate Northern Union match between New Zealand and New South Wales. It also-asked for us© of the Park, if possible, for three or four additional Saturdays for interprovincial matches, as well as information with regard to the making of a charge for ad- ' mission to \ the matches, should the ground he available. .The committee intimated that inquiry would be made into these matters and a reply would be sent the deputation as soon as possible.