FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14440, 5 February 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIANS IX ENGLAND,

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON', February 5. The game between England and tho Australian League team resulkd in a draw, each side scoring four goals and three tries (17 points).

LONDON, February 4,

(Received Feb. 4, at 9.50 p.m.)

The match was played at Glasgow in tliu presence of 300o' spectators. _' The ground was heavy. England scored a g.ial from a try and ,i. dropped goal m the first half, while Mie Australians failed to score. The Australian? got their points in the second spell by line dribbling rushes.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION,

U'ER L'sitkd I'll ess Association.) WELLINGTON, February 4.

A special meeting of tiie Management Committee of the New Zealand ilugby Union was held to-nght. A case had been reported to the committee of a. mutt named Christie, who had been disqualified while playing under the Nelson Union, having taken part in games under the jurisdiction of the West Coast Union. It was decided to ask the Nelson Union whether Christie had been notified of his suspension.

The secretary and treasurer reported that they had been unable to get i'roin the Auckland Union any financial statement in connection with the visit of the British team to that town. Jt was decided to point out to the Auckland Union the great delay which had been caused by the laxity in Auckland, and to demand a statement before the end of the month.

The report of the sub-committee appointed to revise the rules of the game wtis adopted, and was sent on to a general meeting of delegates.

It was decided to itifoim delegates that before, the game could be played next season under the new rules just drawn up the constitution of the Nov Zealand Union must- be altered, this involving separation from the English Union, and that notice must be given if any motion* to thus alter the constitution. In order to give time for such notice the date of the annual meeting was altered from March 4 to March 18.

An interesting question as to professionalism in football was referred to. Last season the union was asked whether ptwd ollicials of unions were professionals in that they received salaries for their services. The union's opinion was that the rules as to professionalism referred only io actual players, but this decision was vigorously attacked *>y many followers of (he game who held that, the rules allowed money In be paid to nobody at ail. A few days ago the chairman of the union (Mr G. If. 'itixon) discovered in the old records of Hie union a letter written in August. 1896, by the secrcliiry of the English Union of the time (Mr' Rowland Hill), ill which it, was staled :—" As regards the payment of a salary, a man is not made a professional by aceeptin" it unless he 'plays football.'' This completely disposes of Ihe arguments of the union's critics, and firmly establishes the interpretation of the rules as Hie correct one, So long as a man docs rot actually play the game he can receive any salary from a union without infringing the rules as to professionalism.