THE RUGBY LAWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 9

THE RUGBY LAWS

PROFESSIONALISM DISCUSSED ! 1,

N.Z.' UNION'S LOCAL POWER

OF ACTION

REQUEST TO ENGLISH UNION

A special meeting of Rugby Union delegates from ■ various pwts t> t Mow- Zealand was held in Wellington yesterday to discuss important mailers affecting the game. Mr. (j. H. bpnggeus (U'anganui) presided, and eleven unions were repicTho chairman welcomed the delegates and paid a tribute to Ihe Rugby men at the front. Ho said ho trusted they would soon return to take their part as footballer!) and citizens. Mr. lE'vans (Canterbury) moved: That as tho English Kugby Football Union's professional rules were framed to suit conditions prevailing in England many years ago, and as many of tho6e rules are not adaptable to the conditions at present obtaining in New Zealand, and do not satisfy, those new necessities which have arisen through tho war, this conference of delegates from unions affiliated to the New Zealand llugby Union, whilst maintaining those fundamental principles of amateurism as laid down by the" English Kugby . Union. in. Rule 2 (1A) and Eulo 2 (2A) is emphatically of opinion that tha timo has arrived when the New Zealand Rugby Union should have vested in it. the powers to formulate such additional rules concerning professionalism as'shall be more i in keeping with local requirements."

Mr.. Evans eaid aotion had not been taken precipitately, but his union had consulted the other unions; and seoured the support of most of them. , Since then, however, some of them seemed to have changed their opinion. Tho rules were passed in England some twenty odd years ago to meet a set of conditione .then prevailing. The proposed alterations were to meet tne changes that had occurred in the meantime. Since the war, tho English Union hadsusponded its rules to permit. professional and amateur Rugby men ito play together. If the present New Zealand rules were carried out, many of the men noirat the front would be . debarred from playing Rugby. It should be made possible for men who had fought for us to rejoin the ranks of the Rugby men. If a man were .'a professional rower or boxer lie could piny llugby, but a man. who had played the League game could not. If a plebiscite of playors were • taken, his view would be accopted. -If the New. Zealand Union was not progressive there would be a dntt from the game. Rugby had not- now tho hold-if used to, have im New Zealand. Canterbury has already readmitted boys of 17 years of age. Mi-. E. Wylio: Where did you get the P °Mrf Evans: From the Now Zealand Union, I think. ,',„., Mr. Wylie: No; I don't think so. Mr. H. Harris (Otago) seconded Hie motion. There waa not room for the two Rugby games in New Zealand Ihe motion did not proposo 10-eadmvt al the old Rugby men who had played Northern Union, but was simply to allow the New Zealand Union to govern ita own affairs. He did not think the English Union would object to thnt. Iho New Zealand Committee had been somewhat lax. Mr. Clements (South Canterbury) supported the motion. ;Mr E. Wylie, of Wellington, representing Poverty Day, and Mr. too. Dixon, a member of the Manngemeut Committee, eaid the committee had not ..been lax as suggested. Mr v Dixon said Hint tne committee had beon bound by tho rules, and now it was being blnmed. by breakup those I Tales' If Rugby-hud deteriorated, the fault'lay' not ,'with the Management Committee but with the local •uiHoiie. • Mr E. 0. Hales (Wellington) said the. motion was too bare nnd bald to send to England. A committee might be set up to make a complete revision ot the rules to forward to the English unioiv The,game must be international or it V Vk f'Wilson (Canterbury) thought that'if tho English Union was alive it would give all that was asked by tho mover. As to the nieu who had played alongside professionals while at the wai, he felt sure they would be reinstated. . It was stated by other members that those players 'had riot been disqualified. Mr. Wilson: Do they not automatically disqualify themselves? Members: No; they cannot tie disqualified' if they are not reported. Mr G. C. Fachc, of Wellington (representing Otago) warned the advocates of the motion that from little things come big things. When the big split in England occurred it was over the mere allowing of players to bo compensated for timo lost. That, however, led to playeis receiving retaining fees of JilflOO a year. Was there any guarantee that tho same would not happen here? l'urther, was this meeting-entitled: to legislate ior the men who had been the- backbone of tho game, and wore now at the Iront where they could have no voice? Some people said tho gamo was at a low ebb hero, but ho had. seen games recently, and they were amongst tho best ho had witnessed, and proved that there was an excellent element playing the gamo. One of the strong fundamentals, was that no personal benefit should' be derived from tho playing of the game. _ A delegate: It is not suggested. Mr. E. Little (Wellington) said he thought a'desiro'to get Northern Union players back to the ranks oi. Rugby was at the bottom of this move, Air. Harris: No. ' Mr. Little: I may be wrong, but I think so. ' Some peuple are pessimistic, and think Bugby is done. But there is a better spirit iu Rugby to-day than tor years previously. 1 vill give delegates an instance: A team was sent to Auckland recently from here, and every man paid his own expenses. ' That is the spirit tuat is uuuerlying Wellington football °ir. y 'p.']?.- ITEvedy, of Wellington, representing Taranaki, said that tho warning issued by Mr. Facho should bo heeded. Did the men at tho front want tho men who bad played Northern Uniou readmitted to tho gamo? Voices: Nil. .. Mr. A. Doy, of Otago, representing Buller, said 00 per cent, of tho players who'had joined the Leagno .in' New Zealand were purely amateur. Mr. D. D. Weir'(Wellington) opposed the motion. If there was anything wrong with Rugby it was because the peoplo behind Rugby for years past had not been workers. There was no need to bo afraid of other games. Tho League had thrown out a challenge in Wellington, and the Rugby Union here had taken up that challenge and beaten tho League. If tho suggestions in the motion were adopted, it was opening tho way to ruin. The chairman .suggested, that an improvement might be mado by extending the reinstatement' ago of players irom 17 years to 20 years. Mr. Evans said, thero was no intention of opening tho door to f Leaguc playera, but ho thought tho reinstatement age might be extended to 20 years. Tho idea of giving the governing body control of its own affaire was operating in other. New Zealand sports bodies, and that was all that the motion sought. The motion was carried by 16 votes to 9. The supporters of the motion woro Auckland and the southern unions. It was then resolved: "That the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union ■be requested lo instruct its secretary to make an immediate application to the English Rugby Union for a further delegation of powers in connection with tho rules concerning professionalism as determinated upon by this conforonco." It was decided that a miss-takeshould not be treated as a knock-on if the player catohes the ball before it touches the ground. It was proposed (hat in- line-out play tho advantage ru.le should bo strictly applied. Tho propositi was carried. Tho Auckland Union had motions (o alter the rules sot down for consideration, but they wore not considered. They are to be sent on lo tho district unions for consideration, and if a- majority of those unions approvo thom. they will bo