CORRESPONDENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1461, 8 June 1912, Page 12

CORRESPONDENCE.

BY THE LEAGUE ORGANISER. Sir,—As a number of Rugby Union people have shown 'undisguised hostility towards the League game ever since its inception, and a few have been rather personal, I would like to ask: Can one of them advance a solid reason for this attitude? The same people who cry: "Down with the League!" are calling the aid of disinterested sport bodies to assist them, and it looks as though it were a case of "If I can't fight you, my brothers will." I'rom Rugby Union headquarters comes the sporting assurance that "We don't wish to kill League football, but only to strengthen our own position." Does this not look like strangling the unborn when, up till the time of writing, no League game had been played in Wellington for years? They coiild hardly kill what was not then in existence. These good people admit that League football is a fine cjnme. and _ that its players show a fine sporting snirit. Well, the cssenco of sport is friendly rivalry, and surelr the Rugby Union's strong position will allow them to extend to us that feeling of "kindred sport" of which tn»>v so often toast. With regard to that mild denial of payment of players issuing from the north, I must say that finite a broad Kmilo has been caused |>y if, all through the southern provinces, and, T say it again, in case some did not hoar me, that I "know of quite a number of Nov,- Zealand amateur Rugby representatives who have received money, and who also say that thev "earn every penny of it." Of course, I did not mean to insinuate for one moment that it 'was a Rugby Union cheque, dulv passed for payment, and signed by the chairman, secretary, and treasurer! nor were stamped receipts civon in return, nor yet were Hie payment* delivered by any of the Management Committee. I niav sav, ton, that it_ is no wish of r'ino to stir up this business a bit. If Peter lives in a. ghsc-hou-e he should not throw nobbles at Paul's, because he may receive a brick in return. The point which T really wish to make is tin'-':—The Northern League oi» here is ju't as amateur and is managed finite as eniTcctlv ns'Ru"by Union football, and the actual nlnv itself is cleaner and faster. a"d so naturally anneals In Ihe Tmhlie. I am sorry to Ihink that T have hurt a prominent player's foeline-s in Auckland, but T can assure him that T nnlv said what T know to he a. fad. and. if it is only a "vaiuc statement." f (liinf: nic-t |ieon!e will sre I lie point. Tailing the whole;' thing big and largo perhaps- the lliiw?-e's Bav ovamplo is a good or.o. Here Union and League playcr-' nalmniso and jnsl Tileas- theni'idvcs <--ltal old game Ihcv ail! nlav-one <|;.v 1 <Mi<7ue. ,i'-xf: d-iy Cnioii-and -o i| HiruM Im. Tin- Riigbv Union do not object to them nl-.ving I c4:cy. sneer, or running at snort*. Then why lake px'mplmn ('> I hem plnyiiic League foollnill when thev feci inclined: --I am, r.lc. GEORGE GtTJ.ETT, Organiser N.Z, Leacuo.-