SHOULD FOOTBALL BE PLAYED?

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2739, 6 April 1916, Page 6

SHOULD FOOTBALL BE PLAYED?

RUGBY UNION DISCUSSION

NO REPRESENTATIVE GAMES

THIS SEASON

At tlio annual meeting of tlio t Wellington Rugby Union, held in the Chamber of Commerce, the question as t<> whether football sliould be encouraged at all during tho present war crisis arose.. It was raised by Mr. Alpe (of St. James's Club), who introduced 'the discussion by a suggestion that no football should be arranged for those , who are of ail age and in other respects eligible for service at the fiont, arid advocated that there should be an age-limit; The position bad grown so serious that be did not tliink that any good would result to tlie Rugby Union or football from men "parading out to play football." There was another contingency that might soon crop up, and that was conscription. He thought that an arrangement might be made for preventing anyman eligible for service taking part in the game. Speaking for his own club, lie did not think there were half a dozen men left who were eligible in a

military senso. '' • Mr. Thompson (Wellington Club) said that the opinion of his club was that there should be no senior matches and no representative matches except between men ill camp. _ He moved "That it be a recommendation to the Management Committee that no_ man , over the age of 20 years, who is eligible to go to the front, should be allowed to play football, and that there be no representative matches, or, if so, they should he played between placers ill camp." In support of his motion, Mr. Thompson said that he did not think that the public would pay sixpence or a shilling to see third-class mfen playing senior football. ifr. E. A. Eittle said he could not agree with Mr. Thompson, beca'uso ho did not think that Mr. Thompson or anyone else could say when a man was eligible. There -were some. ir.ep able to play who were not in a position to blare out why they ivere not able to go to the front. It was purely a matter for one's own conscience wh&tber one went to the' front or played football, but one thing lie was quite sure of, and that was that 110 man o'iuld threw a stoiie at the footballers in this war. iThey had done .their bit almost to a J man. Ho moved as an amendment that nominations be called for tho competitions. ■ Mr. Whito (Poneke) said jhat there were many men able to play football who had not been able-to go co the war. Even in his own club there was rue man with a deformed arm, and another with an old "football knee/' who had not been able to pass the doctor, And there were/members of the Permanent Artillery and others who should teal-1 lowed to play. He did not mean to I say that there were not a lot of jr.en who should go, and ho could speak freely because he had a son not yet '20 years of age who had been in ; tho trenches from the start, but lie-did object to a meeting of the Rugby Union being turned into a recruiting meeting, and so: giving the public an idea that' the footballers were not- doing their part. ' , Mr. D. Weir said it was hard for men not able to go to tho,front who were as "keen as mustard" to get there. There were able players that lie knew who had been Tefused because of some defectum the eyes who had to listen to the bitterest taunts, receive white feathers, etc., but they did not wish to encourage tho shirker. Ho, for one, would not mind turning any football meoting into a recruiting meeting. (Hear, hear.) His thoughts were not centred in football—three parts of his mind were centred elsewhere., He thought the resolution had gone far enough., and he said that Rugby footballers snould be admired from one end of the country to the other. They were all connected with their comrades at the front by letter of memories, and he did not think for a, moment .that there was a man who would' play football who considered it wrong to do so. He did not think the discussion would do any harm—rather would it .bring' home to the public what Rugby footballers were doing in the struggle. Mr. Thompson, in reply, said that he was not opposed to football being played, for he favoured the young men being taught the game, but what he wished to urge was that the men eligible for military service should not be catered for. Such men should be debarred. As the discussion had had a good effect as showing the position of the football management, he had much pleasure in withdrawing his motion. 1 i Mr. Little's amendment that nominations for the competitions be called as usual then , became the motion, and as such was carded unanimously. In explaining the position of football in Wellington, Dr. Newman said that the Union was in straightened circumstances owing to the war, and lie was pleased to say that footballers throughout New Zealand had answered the call 111 a remarkable fashion.' There was 110 other class in the country which had responded so freely and so curly. In the season ensuing upon the outbreak of the war it was found that they had lost practically the'whole of their first and second-class players, and cqming to this-season it would be found that there were no eligible play-

ers of military age, which was a wonderful'record. But .tliey .had to keep going, and it was for the "barrack-, ers" of clubs to help them to do so. Certain matches would, be arranged with the troops, but representative matches would go by the board. There was no reason, however, why the' juniors should not be playing this season —they must keep on and scratch arouuTT, for the least the.y could do was to give the men in khaki a game, and so keep football alive until the horrors of war were over.