“DECLINE OF RUGBY”

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1935, Page 5

“DECLINE OF RUGBY”

LEAGUE EMISSARY CONVINCED. MR. MILLER’S PARTING REMARKS ... J. w The secretary of th© Australian Rugby League, Mr. H. R. Miller, who left Auckland by the Aorangi on; Monday, is convinced that his statement that the standard of Rugby Union play' in New Zealand has declined, has gone “unchallenged.” , Mr. Miller said that some of the newspapers seemed to have been indulging in a tot of guesswork about hk mission. "It is true I stated when L arrived in the Dominion that I was prepared to secure for New Zealand Rugby Leagues any players whose services they wanted, if any official proposition was put to me,” he said; "but, strangely enough, no such proposals have been advanced. I soon found out that my pronounced opinion about th© decline pf Rugby Union in standard and material —indicated by - the ; AIJ Blacks in Australia last season—was not only confirmed by Rugby League authorities, but even by th© Rugby Union itself. Not only did. my. statement go unchallenged, but I have been able to collect cuttings from newspaper? from various parts pf New Zealand .testifying to the decline ofthe Union game here. That, of courge, is not to say there are npt a few players about who might do well in the modern code.” ’ ’\Mr. Miller said he had found the Rugby League game in New Zealand in a healthy condition, directed by a competent organisation, “You can take it from me that the best team Australia can produce will'be over here shortly, and, in the meantime, I will have pleasure in malting a report to my board in Australia that will be very favourable to New Zealand and Its interests. It will contain a recommendation for a series of 'reciprocal team visits between the two countries for the next five years, the setting up of an inter-oouptry Rugby League commission with proper New Zealand representation, and a number of other steps which, apart from football, are designed to weld firmly the sporting bond between Australia and New Zealand. Maori team tours also will be provided for. “The officials in this Dominion who have worked so hard for the welfare of the code and the players who hay© learned to appreciate the merits of our great game will, I hope, soon realise that their efforts have been worth while.” Mr. Miller concluded by sajdng that his tour had given him an insight into possibilities, difficulties had been cleared up and he felt certain his colleagues would be greatly heartened by the correction of ideas held m Australia regarding the game here. He thought great;; success was at hand for the code, and he would like to acknowledge the hospitality and courtesy that had been accorded Mrs. Miller and himself.