GATE-CRASHERS !

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 748, 22 August 1929, Page 6

GATE-CRASHERS !

40 Present at Recent League Dinner DEALING WITH PROBLEM Auckland Rugby League dinners are evidently most popular functions. At one held recently there were 40 gate-crashers! A S a result of this invasion, which has become the regular thing of late, the authorities find their pile of shekels rapidly melting away. At least that is how the chairman put it when the League Management Committee thrashed out the problem last evening, while arrangements for the entertainment of the visiting Canterbury side during the week-end were being discussed. One delegate complained that the last dinner -was not a dinner at all. He could only describe it as a scramble, during which he managed to secure a modest helping of jelly. It was claimed that this scarcity of refreshment at the dinner given by the Auckland Kugby League to the South Auckland visitors last Saturday week was due to the fact that, although only 80 tickets were issued, 120 people attended. “BETTER DINNER AT HOME” The same delegate complained bitterly that he could get a better dinner at home. There were too many hangers-on getting in, he said. The secretary explained that ticketholders were giving their tickets away and thus allowing two people in for every one counted on. As a remedy a member of the League suggested that a smoke concert should be put on instead of a dinner. “Then you would only have to pay for beer and sandwiches, and the whole job could be done for a ‘tenner.’ ” To get over the difficulty in the future, however, each ticket-holder will have his ticket named in ink. and if he does not present it he will not gain admittance —no matter how hard a worker he is for the code. The authorities intend to station a policeman or paid ticket-collector at the door to inspect the credentials of would-be entrants. Other mmebers stated that half a team which had no right to be present gained admittance to the last dinner. Also included among the guests were two gentlemen without collars. Thus at the dinner to the Canterbury team on Saturday evening, Efforts will be made to reduce the number of “those present” from 120 to 70, made up as follows:—Canterbury team, 18: Auckland team, 18; Auckland Rugby League, 20; New Zealand League Council, 4; referees, 3; selectors. 3; Press, 2; and Junior Management Committee, 1. But if the Rugby League s dinners become more select they can hardly become more popular.