LEAGUE WRANGLE

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 9

LEAGUE WRANGLE

ENQUIRY ESSENTIAL

STATEMENT BY TEAM MANAGERS

(BT CABLK-FEESS ASSOCIA.TIO.\-COPyBIGHT 1 (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION)

LONDON, January IS. Six members of the Eugby League Council journeyed to London to attend the New Zealand Eugby League team'? farewell gathering.

Mr G. H. Ponder, financial manager, and Mr E. H. Mair. team manager' have issued a joint statement in which they claim that the dispute will not harm the game if the New Zealand Council fully investigates it. The nine, tccn players who did not strike displayed the highest sporting instincts. Future tours would be more successful if the authorities were mora careful in the selection ef players. Although the team won only 50 per cent, of its games, the moral success was greater, as most of the matches had been played under the most try? ing conditions. Mr Mair pointed out that the managers were unable to fine the strikers, which was the English and Australian custom, because the New Zealand authorities trusted inembi to play tha game.

Mr Ponder paid a tribute to Mr Mair'3 large-nrindedness in twice standing down to save the tour.

M Ponder delivered sixteen and Mr Mair five leetures on New Zealand life, resulting in many applications for passages.