THE "ALL BLACKS" AND PROFESSIONALISM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10105, 24 March 1909, Page 1

THE "ALL BLACKS" AND PROFESSIONALISM.

(Fboh Our. Owx Cobeesi'Ondext.) London, February 11. Last Friday took place the eagerly anticipated meeting o£ the Appeal Committoe of the Interruitkuial Board at the Cale(lonian Hotel. The. meeting lasted for nearly two hours, and at'the close the resolutions were given to the Press. As will be seen, the voting was equal on the main issue submitted by the Scottish Union, and a further resolution practically admitting the accuracy of the Scottish Union's "contention was adopted unanimously Mr A. S. Blair, W.S., and Mr J. ■Vikman Smith represented the Scottish Union, Mr \Y. Cail and Mr K. Temple (ludryn, the I'uigby Union, Mr Horace S. jjvue and Mr A." C. U. Llewellyn the Welsh Union, and Mi' li. U. Warren and Mr J. I!. -Moore, the Irish Union. 'l'he meeting was held to consider the dispute between Lngland and Scotland, and the two specific issues involved. The first of these was submitted by the Rugby Union, and was as follows: "Whether, having regard to the constitution of the International Hoard, the i Scottish Union is at liberty to cancel tlie International fixture with Kngland without referring in the first- inst.mce to the Board." '■Whether the cash payments to players ■ stated in the accounts of the Xew Zealand Union ill connection with the tour m Hi eat Britain and other places as 'daily allowances to players, £lO4l 9s,' and which were made with the approval ol the Kunbv Union, are contrary to the principles of am-itear football, and amount to professionalism." After a long discussion, the following lesolution was passed:—"lliat, Inning lvLVi-d to the constitution of the International lioird. the Scottish Union was not at libertv to cancel the International fixture with Un.land without referring m tht first instance to the Board.'' Un this resolution the vote was six for and two auainst —Kin: land, Ireland, and Wales bchi" in favor and Scotland against. After another discussion on .Scotland s the committee were equally di\id- • •d. Knuland and WaUs voting against the and Si'-thr.!'! and Ireland ioi it. This Wjaiu-i. .-in-j'ly 7 that the re.-oiu-lion was not agreed to, the C'lmtrman having no casting vote. . Later the following resolutions wei'c unanimou.-Iv passed : "1. That'the makiu- of any allowance lo in casii is. in -the opinion of j t !,u committee contrary to the principles i .."fain it .•«!• fuot!:al!. s>nd in future no sucn allmvan.i., be made to anv player. "2* In t'"' opinion of this meeting the wording o\ : bv-l.iW 5 is capable of mis-••on.-triK'tion, am! they recommend that the Hoard consider at its. next meeting the amendment of its by-laws." I ~m imh'Mtfd to the (olumns of a wellI'r.'i'.vji spurting daily for the following ' Commenting on the meetimr and the rc■s'llntions. our Kdinburgli correspomlent t ,.]e"raphed last nula : Tile resolutions arc/of lomse, conveniently contradictory, ami hence from the 10-ieal and legal point of view the mcctin ■ was something OI a fie ni; 1 1 far. In one resolution tne commiiteee are rquaiiy divided as to whether I (::■'.di paviuents to plavem amount i« pio- | j'tssioiialis'.i!. and in another resolution ! a''t'C" unanimouslv .that such payments are contrary to the principles ot amateur football. Jt would appear, therefore. that the meeting was intended 'o S"eure peace, even at the sacrifice ot ! C 'fhe other tv.-o resolutions are equally I contradictory, for the resolution passed, I which Ireland supported, is opposed in principle to the second resolution, which admits that the wording ot by-law - i- olsfu'-e. Once more the conclusion h that the meeting tried to reach a comp. ; :nis: that made lor peace, even it the members of the committee admitted the lod'crouslv contradictory character ot the four resolutions. I see no reason to depart from the view as to the outlook evorcs.-cd yesterday. Scotland is only nearer an understanding with England in so far as'somc- sort of undertaking was "ivwi as to the future policy of the Lugbv Union towards professionalism and Kindred problems. Xonc of the Unions can a'-t however, until there lias been a uitl mcMin- of their respective committees. One thill'.' is assured—the Irish and S-ottish Unions are in most complete agreement to the necessity tor drastic anil thorough measures, while it is nucleistood that the Welsh Union are just as desirous of purification as are the >„cot-t;-sii and Irish Unions. The Bugoy Lmon may then find themselves in a position ol far' from splendid isolation. The immediate feeling m Scottish olticial circles is that their action has done sood in so far as it- has aroused all the Unions to a sense of the danger in which the "ame as an amateur pastime has so 101 l" 0 stood. If, therefore, they can persuade themselves that the Rugby Union now realise that their policy, so far from helping to avoid a isplit, y ,l "> if pursued, inevitably lead to such a split, they may come to a decision that the English Committee should be given another opportunity of proving their sinceritv in action. If they reach this decision" then the match between Scotland and' England, may after all be played, . n any case the Scottish Union will not decide nntil they have given the matter careful consideration. They may be relied upon to do what they consider to ic* best- in the interests of the game as an amateur pastime.