LEAGUE PLAYERS STRIKE, BUT COME TO AGREEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18000, 10 November 1926, Page 9

LEAGUE PLAYERS STRIKE, BUT COME TO AGREEMENT.

MEN REFUSE TO PLAY OR TRAIN WITH MAIR. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. November 8. The “Daily Express” says that the differences between seven forwards in the New Zealand League team and the manager, Mr Mair, have reached a climax. N. Mouatt. F. Henry, L. Petersen, J. Wright, W. Devine. A. Singe and A. Carroll sent an ultimatum threatening to embark for home on November 19 unless their demands are met. The English Rugby League Council, which guaranteed the expenses of the tour, tried hard to effect peace at a meeting at Manchester on October 28, but friction continued. The abovementioned forwards have positively declined to train or play under Mr Mair’s control. Mr Mair asserts that he retains the New Zealand Council’s confidence. The New Zealanders are certain to take the field in the second test, but the odds are greatly against them.

MEN RECONCILED; WILL TURN OUT IN FULL STRENGTH. " Sydney Sun •• Cable. LONDON, November 9. The League players have been reconciled and will turn out in full strength for Saturday's test. WERE AGAINST GOING TO BED AT ELEVEN. V Sydney Sun ” Cable. (Received Nov.etn.ber 10, 1 p.m.). LONDON, November S. The “ Evening News,” discussing the settlement of the New Zealand footballers’ dissensions, says: “Four of the players considered the discipline overstrict on shipboard, and threatened to return to New Zealand as soon as they

| reached England. Certain players sang I ‘ The Red Flag ’ aboard the steamer. It was declared that this did not p6ssess any real significance, but nevertheless the singers were taken to task.

“ The resentment lingered, and there was further trouble on reaching the training quarters at Harrogate. The players resented the ban on late hours, and. tore down the notices ordering the team to bed at. eleven nightly. Some players disliked Mr Mair’s training strictness, .saving that he was an Australian, with ideas of discipline which were unpalatable to New Zealanders, who were accustomed to different methods. The seven rebels have agreed to do their host now that Mr Mair has resigned the selectorship. DISSENSION AROSE OVER ONE PLAYER. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND. November 10. The four forwards first named in the cable message were ordered by the managers to return to the Dominion for refusing to play, and following this command the three other players expressed a wish to return also. The trouble was confined originally to one forward, and he was subsequently joined by six other players in sympathy.