YOUTH AND RUGBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 6

YOUTH AND RUGBY

Sir, —To say the least of it, I should say your correspondent “ Not So Scotch is inclined to be rather biased in his reply to “ Parent's ” letter. I am not able to say whether “ Parent’s ” son is a footballer or not, but I know that I have a son at primary school who, although very keen on football, was unable to get into his school team this year, as his game was not up to the standard of play required. For this reason, and rightly so, he is not given a free pass to attend football matches. In spite of this, I did think he was very much over-charged when he told me he had to pay Is to see the game last Wednesday. I think 6d would be an ample charge for schoolboys. In passing, I might state that I have an elder boy who complains that both last year and this their club matches are very much reduced because of Ranfurly Shield matches played here. I would not exactly describe the Rugby Union as a much-maligned body who do not get the credit they deserve. I don’t know about " credit,” l»ut they collect plenty of cash, which, I am very pleased to hear, is expended on so many good causes. Of course, their whole revenue cdmes from the players, and the public would not be contributing so readily to the funds of the Rugby Union if the Rugby players did not produce such interesting football. Why not spend a little more money on the players themselves? I quite agree with your correspondent “ Offside ” when he asks why our touring team cannot travel by air in the North Island. One would imagine that the Rugby Union has the requisite funds to provide this extra comfort for our players. —I am, etc., Looker-on.