THE LEAGUE DISPUTE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16373, 22 June 1927, Page 4

THE LEAGUE DISPUTE

TROUBLE IN THE OFFING The critical situation winch lias arisen between the English Kugby League and the New South Vales and Mew Zealand Leagues is exciting much discussion in the centres where League is played, and even though the cash code has not found a. looting in t'overty Bay, the following explanation of the position, made" by Mr. C. A. Sncdden, president of the New Zealand Kugby League Council, is interesting. Mr Sriedden said the Mew Zealand League Council considered the lifting ol the ban was a. betrayal of the Australian and' New Zealand Leagues. "It was 14 years ago that, as the result of protests regarding the number of players going to England, an agreement was reached whereby a two-years' residential qualification was imposed," he said. ''However, last year the English League wrote to New Zealand and Australia, asking for an expression of opinion as lo the lifting of the ban. Loth leagues replied expressing strong disapproval of any alteration to the rule.

"Some of the English clubs endeavored to have the clause removed while the .New Zealand team was in England, and it was retained by a vote of 14 to 13 at the English League Council, the votes of the managers of the New Zealand team being instrumental in blocking the proposition, "Apparently the clubs have not been idle, and the latest development was not altogether unexpected. As far as the refusal of the New Zealand Council to grant transfers lo Brown and Davidson is concerned, we feel certain it was not .1... ~!• tl._ 1.-„™i; t l, K.wlt- t^L-in.r

the cause of the English body taking the action it did. The New Zealand Council, in its aim to keep the game amateur, has already made it impossible for the bartering of l players between clubs. "If the English League persists in Us action, the question of cancelling the English tour m the Dominion next year will no doubt be considered. There is no doubt that each member of the English team will be on the look-out for players of ability, so that they may bo snared for bis own particular club. "As to the suggestion made regarding tho secession of „the New Zealand League from the English League, there is no

doubt, that if the latter insists in its move some drastic action will be taken.''