LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1836, 23 August 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

[Br "Fleetfoot."]

TALK WITH "ALL BLUE' MANAGERS. Lsague Money and League Audit. Two typical Australians—Messrs. S. George Ball and 13. J. Hooper, ruiinagc-ts of the "Ail Blue team" now in New Zealand—found their way into "I'VctlVvl"V sanctum this week, Hid had tome-thin,,' cf interest to say in respect to the mule übted march of the League game, ilucli of this has already appeared in ''J he Dominion this week, but a point u; tiro remains to be stated. One point which "Fleetfoot" particularly inquired about was the disbursements 'to clubs, and the sj-stem of audit of accounts and books. Mr. Ball said: "In regard to disbursements, after the ground charges and gatemen's wages have been deducted, the competing clubs receive twothirds of the net "gate," and tho League itself receives one-third, which latter share goes to the general League . fund. This year the most financial of the Sydney clubs (South Sydney, which is a third in tho competition) received through this channel upwards of .£llOO. This is a record in club grants since tho League started out on its career, of conquest." Every Penny can bo Traced. "And the nature of the audit?" asked the writer. "You know that it is possible to have a large quantity of unspecified "sundries" in a balance-sheet which nobody inquires much about when the annual meeting comes round. We have had that sort of thing in New Zealand in branches of sport outside the League." , Mr. Ball then detailed the system of audit in N.S. Wale 3 which is complete as any auditing -can be. It would be rather long to describe here, but it certainly leaves -no loophole for unverifiable expenditure. When Mr. Ball had finished the writer asked: "Then every pound spent by the League can at once be traced in. tho books and vouchers?" ■Mr. Ball smiled, and then 6aid: "Every lx>und? Well, we cut it a little finer than that." And then he added (solemnly) : "Every penny that a League body or official spends is (and must be) always traceable in black and white. £1300 to Injured Players. "How do you treat injured players?" ■ was the next question put to tho New South Wales manager. • "Well," replied Mr. Ball, "I suppose you know that the essence of the spirit of the League is: 'Players first, spectators second, and officials last.' We follow that out in respect to injured players. If a man. is injured in a first, second, cr third grade match the League allows him .£2 per week for 1G weeks, and after that special provision is made. The doctors' and chemists' charges are borne by Iho head body. ' Last year we paid out no less than <£1300 in relief of injured phyers. "The Game has Como to Reign." "The game has come to stay?" inquired the writer. "Come tc reign you mean!" rejoined Mr. Ball. Over on our side of the water it has spread through the country like a prairie fire. It is impregnable in Sydney, and branch Leagues have been formed in Newcastle, Hunter district, Bathurst, Orange, Wyalong, Woolloiigong, and Nowra." Mr. Ball then gave figures, and one significant little bit of statistics was that the merit medals purchased for players cost .£BB. In 1908 last this particular item of expenditure topped ,£50(). "And how about the spread of the game 'like a prairie firo' in New Zealand?" was the writer's last question. ' Mr. Ball answered one question by putting another: "Well, what do YOU think?" he concluded significantly. Victims of Vaccination. All the members of the N.S.W. lieague team had to submit themselves to the ordeal of vaccination before they were allowed to cross to New Zealand. Some of the wiser players "got in early," and have now quite recovered, but there are several who liave very bad arms. During the practice games on ICelburne. Park on Wednesday and Thursday, before the team left for the south, there were numerous complaints from players that they had been grabbed .by a tender spot. Some of the wounds look very sore indeed, and one wonders at the hardihood of men who can play at all with their arms in such a state. Sydney League Swimming Association. An excellent scheme for keeping footballers together during the "oil" eeison has been adopted by the Eugby Leaguß in Sydney. A League Swimming Association has been formed, to which most of the prominent players'under the Northern Union code belong. The president of the association is Mr. J. Hooper, and the secretary (who was also the organiser) Mr. S. Geo. Ball. • These two gentlemen are joint managers to the League team which opens it's tour of the Dominion in Christchurch to-day. From' its inception, the association met with/great success, and its membership roll includes tho n-imes of some of the most prominent swimmers in Australia. Many of tho officials of the association are also officials of the League. One of the features of the association is that it allows "mixed" competitionsraces in which., both men and women compete together. O. Dickman, who was recently defeated by the English "crick," Billington, in a contest at Home, is the association's "star" man. Dickman holds tho world's professional records for 220 yds., 880 yds., and 1000 yds. Until de-. feated by Billington, ho also held the mile record. Girl swimmers belonging to the association. who hold excellent re-

cords include Misses Meafl, Gladys Tate, and G. Hooper. The last-named, who is a daughter of tho president, swam 50yds. in 32sec„ while only 15 years of age. Tho association also claims as members several champion divers, . including P. Punch, G. Read, C. Scott, J. Bevan, P. M'Nally, and C.' Purcell. It has been found that the meeting "of _ the. League players during the summer in these contests keeps them in close touch with one another, and has a considerable beneficial effect on the winter game. The Representative Match. It was ■unfortunate that the weather was so bad for tho Canterbury match. The Wellington League had anticipated a. big crowd, and had the weather been fine no doubt their expectation would have been realised. Considering the state of tho ground, tho jjame was a very fine one, and tho manner m which tho Wellington men handled the greasy leather.was splendid to watch. The Canterbury team were a •little on the light side,, and on the day's play, were-no match for the locals. ■■ Notes on.the Locals. Finlayson, Wellington's full-back, was in good form, and pTas'ed a capital game. Proebstel, on the wing, showed Kelly, at centre, did not Shape as well as his friends would havo liked, and Strickland, on the other wing, showed only middling form. As five-eighths, Houso and Bradley were at their best, especially the latter, who was brilliant both in defence and attack. Barber played a fair game at half. The forwards "played the game." Spencer, Bensmann, and Parker constituted a very energetic trio, and the two hack men, Manning and Turner, played solid games, though Turner tired rewards the finish. , Wilson harassed the visiting backs all the time. Canterbury's Form. All that can be said of tho Canterbury backs is that they wore not up to standard. Smith, Kosella, and Watts wero perhaps the host, but Watts, behind tho serum, showed a little of that very desirable quality, "nippiness." It tolls in League play. In tho forward}, Morris and Shanks were always on the ball,' while Campbell occar sionally caught the eye. The Team for Auckland, 1 With the exception of M'Guire (who replaces George as emergency), the team for Auckland remains unaltered. It,was considered that M'Guire could play anywhere in tiho backs, and if the day is wet, Finlayson will play three-quarter, in place of Strickland, and M'Guire will go back to "full." Bensmann is tho only doubtful man, which is regrettable, as' he is in great buckle at present.