FOOTBALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10409, 22 March 1910, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ENGLISH FOOTBALL NOTES. THE NORTHERN UNION AND THE AUSTRALASIAN VISIT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, February 11. The Emergency Committee has, I am informed, been somewhat freely vilified during the week for their reticence respecting the terms offered by the Australian League in the cablegram of the previous week. The criticism to some extent may be deserved, but in matters which require careful consideration the publication of details before tlie.v are finally accepted by the two parties to the agreement would service 110 useful purpose, and might possibly result in the whole being abruptly broken off. It appears that Australia's terms are not acceptable to tlio Northern Union. This much can be gathered from the fact that cablegrams are still passing between the two organisations with a view to each side meeting tlio other. Australia's terms are not so liberal as those given by the Northern Union to the combinations managed by Messrs Baskerville and Giltinan. During the past week the opposite of this statement has been hinted at, but much is made of the fact that Australia's guarantee is one of £3OOO. This is the only figure in the offered terms of agreement which equals that actually paid by the Northern Union to their recent guests — and a guarantee, it is thought, of oven £3OOO cannot be regarded as a serious factor for financial success.

When the amount of guarantee and percentage of "gates" were received from Sydney, tho Northern Union carefully went 'into the estimated . cost of the'tour. The Union are not desirous of making a penny piece profit, but are anxious to make such arrangements as would give reasonable prospects of_ receipts meeting expenditure. Now, Australia's offer, based upon their own estimate of the aggregate takings, will not even cover the cost of the tour Should tho Union accept, they stand to lose-an amount which will run into four figures. Probably the Australian League -will take exception to the Union's estimated expenditure, but the fact should not be overlooked that the Northern Union players are professionals. They cannot exist on the allowance of 3s per day per man, which was made to the colonial players who toured England. The Northern Union perhaps owe the visit in view of the happenings of the last two seasons, but Australia has all to gain and nothing to lose. The difference in what is offered and what will be accepted is very little, but the Northern Union are firm in their demands, and rightly so, it is considered, for their terms are not even a quid pro quo on past agreements with colonial visitors.