THE PEACE CUP

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3353, 24 September 1931, Page 5

THE PEACE CUP

SHOULD IT BE JETTISONED? SUGGESTION TO WAIKATO UNION. In view of the growing conviction among Rugby enthusiasts in this district that the Peace Cup should be challenged for by Waipa next season in preference to again competing for the Finlay Cup, the following is interesting : At last meeting of the Waikato Rugby Union, in referring to the Peace Cup Mr A. G. Yardley (Matamata) asked delegates to think over a proposal to endeavour to pursuade their sub-unions to refrain from challenging for the trophy. The speaker's opinion was that the Peace Cup competition was one which did not encourage a good spirit in football and was generally looked upon as purely a moneymaking proposition. The object of football unions should be to foster the game in their various territories. In no book of rules could it be found that the object was to accumulate wealth. As instancing the bad effects the trophy had on football generally, the speaker said that each union which had held the trophy had afterwards suffered through lack of good playing material. He thought this was due to too much attention being paid to the senior representatives at the expense of the juniors. The issue of the final match of the season, in which his own union was concerned, was in doubt till the next day. Although he would like to see Matamata defeat Morrinsville, he thought if the former won it would save trouble to the sub-union if they sent a delegate to drop the trophy in a harbour. A delegate interjected that the speaker was always after finance for the Waikato union.

Mr Yardley said his motive there was to get a freehold ground so that Rugby football would have a permanent home in Waikato.

Mr E. Whiting said it was not often he saw eye to eye with Mr Yardley, but he agreed thoroughly with his views on the_ Peace Cup. With a few interjections regarding finance the subject then lapsed.