INSURANCE DIFFICULTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 2

INSURANCE DIFFICULTY

PLAYERS OF RUGBY

DECLINED BY CO.M FAMES

\Y EU, IXETON ENTER I.IOiVCMO

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

Insurance companies had declined to consider a general accident cover for Rugby football players, said Mr. J. N. Millard, of last year’s management committee, at the annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union last night.

The subject was introduced by Mr. C. F. Houlton, of Eastbourne, who

said that the compensation for the loss of wages under the union's insurance scheme was inadequate. As a result the club v/as losing junior members and had taken steps to augment the union fund by the establishing of one of its own. ■Mr. J. Prendcville, said that the committee had gone into the question of general cover and has found that about £IOOO would be required. The amount expended by the union from its accident fund was 8 per cent to 10 per cent of the gross takings at Athletic Park, and 80 per cent of the nett takings. W

tlie passing of the Social Security Act, the whole position was changing and the union, before embarking on any scheme, should ascertain how it would be affected by the legislation. Mr. Millard, said that the secretary had approached insurance companies about a general accident cover for the union. They were not interested and would not even quote. Since 1920 the union had paid out £11,267 from the accident fund and the public did not realise the extent of the protection given. No other union in New- Zealand treated its players so generously. Referring to criticism in the case of a junior player who had lost a leg, Mr. Millard said that the union had paid out much more than v/as thought.