COUNCIL OF SPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25804, 27 March 1945, Page 6

COUNCIL OF SPORT

RUGBY UNION’S AFFILIATION OBJECTION EXPRESSED The position of the union in relation to affiliation with the Council of Sport was discussed by the meeting of the Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Football Union last night, and after the subject had been debated it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union, which is to be asked to obtain a legal opinion. . The discussion arose following a letter from the New Zealand Union which drew attention to a previous resolution that it did not approve of the formation of the New Zealand Council of Sport and stating that considered opinions had been expressed that unions could not affiliate with such a body if the union’s rules were to be complied with. It was pointed out that the matter would be brought up by the Canterbury delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union. Position in Canterbury Mr D. M. Spedding said that there had previously been a Canterbury Amateur Council of Sport, but the word “ amateur ” had been dropped from the designation and the Rugby Union and several other bodies had withdrawn. Mr D. C. Jolly said there was nothing to say that the union was not eligible to join the Council of Sport. He was not satisfied with the opinion that had been given by the members of the New Zealand Rugby Union Council. Mr Spedding, who was the Otago representative on the Rugby Council, was opposed to the Council of Sport. When a statement was made that the Rugby Union Council’s objection to unions joining the Council of. Sport was because the constitution of the latter body conflicted with the union’s rules relating to professionalism, Mr I. Grant said that the union catered for men who took part in professional sport—they could be professional athletes and still play Rugby. Mr Spedding said that an “act of professionalism ’’ was defined by the union as taking steps “to promote or abet” Northern Union or Rugby League football. “By joining the Council of Sport we are encouraging Rugby League,” Mr Spedding added. Mr Jolly: That is only the opinion of a few members of the Rugby Council. ‘ Request for Legal Opinion Mr H. Harris said that he doubted very much whether the New Zealand Rugby Union was correct in its opinion. The Council of Sport was a body elected to foster both amateur and professional sport, The union was not encouraging Rugby League football — it was in the Council of Sport for the benefit it could do for sport. Mr Spedding said that as the Otago Council of Sport had affiliated with the New Zealand Council of Sport that brought it under the ban. Mr Harris questioned such an assertion. He moved that the matter be left to the delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union which should be asked to obtain a legal’ opinion on the matter. Mr A. Grant moved as an amendment that the delegates be instructed to vote in favour of continuing affiliaition with the Council of Sport. The amendment, which was seconded by Mr I. Grant, was defeated by nine votes to seven, and the motion was carried.