TARANAKI FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10657, 4 July 1896, Page 2

TARANAKI FOOTBALL.

TO THE EDI f OB. Sir,— l quite agree with the remarks of '• One who takes an interest in the game " upon tho management, or want of management, of the Union, which appeared in the columns of your contemporary of Juqo 29th. The Union should not forget that they are dependent for support on the football loving public,' who take as much intbrest in> the selection of a representative team as the Union do themselves, and unless the team iB picked for present merit alone, and not past reputation, they cannot expect tho public to roll up in any numbers at the different fixtures. It is impossible to please everyone, but it seems to ms th© Union do not even try and please themselves, or -why were not some of tho Selection Committee chosen from this end of the district ? or, again, why did the Committee not attend the Senior Cup matches at this end, to see which pinyere were worthy of playing in test matches ? A certain number of players from the Stars and Tukapas are asked to go to Hawera ( why Hawera ?) to play in tho test match, amongst others L. Allen (Star) and Galloway (Tukapa), both men playing in the same place for their respective teams. There can only be one choice in the matter, viz., Allen, so that if Galloway is also chosen wher« will tho Committee place him? Surely they would never play him as a three-quarter when such a good man as F. Petty is to be got. And I should like to aßk the Committee why Petty was not asked to play ? There is only one answer to this, and that is, they have never put themselves about to see matches played at this end. and they don't study the places of the men, though they had a good example set them by their prodeceßßors of 1894, the result being a team which was second to none, in New Zealand. I understand all the interprovincial matches have to be played at Hawera. If this is so, there can bo no doubt about the want of management. Last year's balance-sheet shows that ,the net proceeds of the Auckland-Taranoki match were £31, and to that amount must be added the expense* of the Rep. team, in -New Plymouth for a week, brakes and cabs for the visitors, etc., so that the takings at Now Plymouth must have been, nearly 100 per cent, more than the* takings at Hawera in the Wangauui - Taranaki match, where the net gate . was only £23 ss, with expenses practically nil. A is, therefore, clear if the Union want to be financially strong most of the interprovincial fixtures Bhould be played in New Plymouth, and a better ground for the public to see the games you cannot find in New Zealand. I am one who takes a keen interest in Rugby football, and desire above all things to see the Taranaki Reps, do as well this year as did the team of 1894, and that can only be done by the Seleotion Committee bestirring themselves and acting with energy and discretion .—I am, &c, D. McAllum. [Since the above was written Petty wat asked to take part iv the test match,—* Ed. T.B.]