N.Z. Visit of Australian League Team

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 114, 4 August 1927, Page 7

N.Z. Visit of Australian League Team

Auckland League Up in Arms Against Council AN UNWELCOME PROVISO Quite a stir was caused at a meeting of the Auckland Rugby League last night when a letter was received from the New Zealand Council agreeing to an invitation being extended to a Sydney club team to visit Auckland, with the proviso that the Southern Leagues be included. Mr. Hammill said that he himself would absolutely refuse any offer of that sort. The answer that should have been received was either “yes” or “no.” but not an attempt to tag something on to their proposal. “We are not going to be commanded by them,” he said. Mr. Deere said that the matter bad been discussed by the Marist Club, and it was its opinion that the whole thing was a very sad state of affairs. It was evident that the New Zealand Council held an antagonistic attitude toward Auckland League, which after all was said and done was “the” League of New Zealand. “The whole trouble is that they cannot get a team to visit New Zealand while England can. They want Auckland to invite the team to tour South and then foot the bill,” said Mr. Felton. Mr. Hammill explained that the council controlled all inter-State and international fixtures, and the Auckland League should be at liberty to invite a club team over from Australia without being under any obligation. Mr. Stall worthy, Auckland delegate on the New Zealand Council, said that he would ask the members of the Auckland League to be careful what they were saying, as the chairman of the council was making every endeavour to work in harmony with the Auckland League. After further discussion, it was decided to accede to the request of the New Zealand League Council, and to acquaint the Southern Leagues of the particulars, so as to enable them to gain full benefits from the tour. Permission was granted to the New Zealand Rugby League to use Carlaw Park for the Nor— v. South Island match on September 24. An application for the reinstatement of L. A. Shirtcliff was approved. The Junior Management Committee advised that Messrs. C. Adamson and T. Davis had been appointed to represent it at the conference called to discuss junior and school football. Permission was granted to the junior representative team to play a match at Rotorua.