GLAD TO BE BACK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17230, 9 April 1930, Page 14

GLAD TO BE BACK

LEAGUE FOOTEALLER POOR FINANCIAL REWARD Ben Davidson, the well-known Auckland Hugby League footbal.or, who has been [.'laying lor Wigan Ulub in Liugiand tor some years, returned lo Auckland by toe .Niagara. "I am glad to be back," he said, "and 1. wouid not advise any New Zealander lo go Home lo play footbail. 1 have no intention ol going back, filings are too hard lor a martied man playing football user there. J was represented as not having played good football in England, luu t think most of the Home papers continued that the contrary was the position. 1 played mostly on the wing, and that place does not suit me. "The weekly wages are very low and amount to about ±!3 a week," he continued. "If you take an hour or two oil' you lose money and only draw about £2, 14s to £2 15s. Von have to tram three days a week, two of which are compulsory. There are a lot of restrictions, and Lhe going is hard." "lio you consider it worth while for a New Zealander to join an English club?" Davidson was asked. "Yes and no," Davidson replied. "Signing-on fees arc all right if you secure a good contract, but to get so nun li a match is not a living wage, and 1 would advise no one to go Home under those conditions. If a player can get a signing-on fee of £SOO or £I6OO then ho might do all right." .Speaking of Lou Brown and Mason, two other New Zealanders who went Home, Davidson said Mason was considered the best forward playing under the League code in England. Drown was playing much better football than he did in New Zealand. Jle was also very popular with the crowds.