LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2197, 9 July 1914, Page 5

LEAGUE.

ENGLISH VISITORS ARRIVE; MANAGER INTERVIEWED. The, English Northern .Union footballers arrived, by the-Ulimarba yesterday. The team is under the control of Mr. J. W. Houghton. Some ninemembers of the pack were left in; Sydney; and these include- the captain, (Wagstalfe). • Tho tourists were met 'at the wharf-by Mr. J. Carlaw, president of the New.Zealand Council, Mr.' U. W. M'Lean, chairman of , the- council, and Mr. S. Bricc, secretary of the local League. When ; interviewed, Mr. Houghton.expressed his and the team's satisfaction in every .way with the' Au-stralian-tour. It had been enjoyed*on all sides to the full. .Ho also had a word to say concerning the Australian ■ sporting public. It had been-said that the football crowds of ' 'tho other side 1 ' were, narrow visioned, and' appreciated only the virtues of their own football heroes, and; ignored those of opposing touring teams. This impression ■. was absolutely erroneous. In the world of sport, Australiansvdid have an .inflated idea of their own athletic prowess. In some branches they considered . themselves the monarchs of the sporting arena; but, since athletes of other, coun-. tries had visited Australia this idea was dispelled, and had- given birth 1 to ' a broad sporting spirit. The. Britishers' victories in Australia were thoroughly appreciated by the crowds, and on tho occasion of their- more recent successes, the Englishmen left tho. field to the accompaniment of vigorous cheering from the "honk." This fact alono ; .spoke for . the good - spirit ' .that . ' prevailed: Further questioned, Mr:.-Houghton stat-. Ed that the rule so much .commented on of not "substituting injured players—would be rigidly adhered to throughout the New Zealand tour.- In his opinion, ■ this regulation is iii every way fair and-just. ■ • i j "The."Northern' Union code," -continued 'the .manager,, ''has', eaten, its way' right through 'the Australian' districts, and even, the schools have taken, it up. The popularity of the Leaguegame in' Australia can be gauged by the vast crowds who,. Saturday alter Saturday, ■ attend the matches, and the record gates," ' Ho ,followed .this- statement up:,by saying that on the occasion of one match, the "gate", amounted' to .4:1853, and' -for the "inatcfi - immediately following the "gate" totalled .£2855— an increase of .'£looo. -' In conclusion, Mr. ; Houghton stated ■ that he was only ''giving voice to the .' sentiments , of the tourists -in saying that tlioy looked -to ,the New Zealand tour with no- small amount ,of pleasure;, and hoped they could leave; satisfied they gave of their best, .and enlightened-the- New Zealand public . 011 the/ merits , of the League, game.. The following is the personnel of y the team: —Gwyn Thomas,' 1). Williams, AV. 0. Hall, W. H. Davis, J. O'Garra, F.Smith,: S.> Prosser, J. W. Guerin, S. W. Jarman, A., Johnson, J.' W. Snia.l«B, ? -.J' Cbilcott, J. L. Clampitt.'' W; Roman, ' and D.. Hollands. . The team' is' accompanied by its trainer, Mr. D. Sydney! y' : . VISITORS ENTERTAINED. .. The visitors were entertained bv .the: Management Committee of It-lie.-Welling-ton-Rugby -Football League atßarrott'a Hotel last evening. Mr. M.J. llcardon (president ,of .the .Wellington League) presided, and among those present .were Mr; J', £.'■ Luke (Mayor),/ and Messrs., D.. M M'Lean (chairman of the -N-Z. Council; Auckland),' James Carlaw (p'rer. sident of .the N.Z. llugby League, Auckland) , J. 11. Houghton (manager of, the visiting toani), and - S.VBrice-, (secretary -of the local League).. . -• ;; On ' behalf of . the: 'Wellington ORugby League ' Mr. Reardon extended v. a' .'cor--dial "welcome/ to the visitors.. Ho expressed pleasure-at, being able to; meet, the redoubtable football champions, wlio. had come 50 maiiy miles in order to givo exhibitions'iofjthe-League game._, When -the visitors; got on the field * with, tho' colonials 'they would find that though t'licy'were 16,000-miles from Home,'.the colonials were: as much Britishers".asthe visitors. !'■

After the toast/of "The King" had been honoured, the Mayor proposed the toast .of "The Visitors,", and in doing go extended a hearty welcome to'the team on behalf of the City of Wellington. Ho wished the team every success. . : : \i\ In reply, Mr. Houghton, said that ho was very "pleased to'have met the Cliiof Magistrate of tho City of Wellington, lie stated that it was his second visit to Now Zealand, his first, visit being in 1910,- 'wlieu he' camel out; as; assistantmanager with :a Northern' Union team. He did not. think that, after , his visit to Australia, the -British spirit, there ■ivas as keen as it .;was -in New Zealand. He always felt more at homo in tho company of tho Now Zealander than in that of the Australian. Tliis, he said, with all due-respect.to. the Australians. ■ The team, had had» an excellent time' there."' ; y : ;Vk Mr. Carlaw, in proposing the toast of the. local. "sw<| that there was no doub't that the visit .would push' the .League/game forward at.» a 'faster-.rate than it had been progressing iii the-, past.. The ground question, said Mr. Carlaw,: was one of contention amongst Leaguers in New 'Zealand. The municipalities had not been kind to tho Leagues!; in . this . rCspect, and he thought' that. they, were' up against' professionalism. "The Northern, Union game 4 is as clean as - Rugby is, or ever was," said the speaker..: "The Rugby Union paid its .players 6s. a day pocket expenses when they . were on tour • and the Leagues in. Zealand pay their players. 10s. .a, day when .on tour. .It was just a matter of price. It is call-, ed professionalism because we, pay a bigger price. There , are- just!- as clean men in Northern TJnioir as there are in Rugby." In conclusion the speaker hoped that in the future the League would be considered a little /more in tho matter of grounds. Mr. Brice replied briefly. Mr. W. Davis proposed the toast .of "Tho New Zealand League,'' and Mr.:M'Leiin responded. •: