LEAGUE WITHDRAWS PERMISSION TO TAKE COLLECTION AT MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18187, 21 June 1927, Page 4

LEAGUE WITHDRAWS PERMISSION TO TAKE COLLECTION AT MATCH.

At a meeting of the executive of the Rugby League last night, the secretary, Mr Richardson, said that the proposal that the leading League and Rugby representatives should meet, the proceeds of the match to go to the unemployed, had been received with ridicule.

Air M’KeOn said that the Mayor had brought the matter up before the Unemployment Committee. It was strange that such a suggestion for the alleviation of distress, where there was such a wonderful chance to get so great an amount, should be ridiculed. It was not the place for the gentlemen who had done so to reject such a suggestion as impracticable. The speaker said he did not know whether the executive were going to take such insults lying down. The attitude of those individuals who had virtually deliberately insulted the executive unfitted them for the positions they held. The trades organisation had whole-heartedly endorsed the suggestion. The chairman (Mr Winter Cole) said he could confidently state that 90 per cent of those playing League had never played any other code since leaving school. He, for one, was not going to take the remarks “ lying down.” The challenge of the League Executive should have been forwarded to the Rugby Union and not dealt with by one or two members of the Unemployment Committee. It was moved that a letter of strong protest be sent to the committee. The motion was' seconded by Mr Smith. The chairman said that the League code was democratic, but there was no truth in the charge of professionalism. The League code was above-board. The motion was carried. Referring to the permission given the Unemployment Committee to take up collections at matches, Mr Sheahan moved that this permission be withdrawn and given to the Trades Council. This motion was carried.