SOCCER

Southland Times, Issue 19223, 19 April 1924, Page 12

SOCCER

(By “Shoot*)

In regard to the proposal to bring a Can adiaa team to New Zealand thia season, the following extract from the annual report of the New Zealand Council suitably sums up the position at present:—“We were in negotiations with the Dominion of Canada FA. with a view of a Canadian team touring the colomea and had asked the Football Association of Australia to share the tour with us. At the beginning of the year the Australian authorities stepped in and told us they had completed negotiations with Canada for the tour and offered us an itinerary on certain conditions. The council felt that your Association was not treated fairly in the matter, and as neither the terms nor date offered were Very attractive, the council felt bound to decline the offer. The way is still open, however, for this tour to be extended to New Zealand.” There is little doubt that the Commonwealth authorities have treated New Zealand very shabbily over the Canadian tour, states “Vanguard” in the Wellington Post, and the stand taken by the council at the time was quite justified. However, when the welfare of the game is at stake, much can be forgiven and forgotten, and if it is at all possible to include New Zealand in the tour then the necessary steps should be taken, even at the risk of having to back down a little. Most of the Associations are in favour of bringing the Canadians through this country, and the chances are that that end could be brought about if negotiations with the Commonwealth and with Canada were re-opened.