RUGBY POLICY IN WARTIME

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 3

RUGBY POLICY IN WARTIME

Suspension Of Some Games

Recommended

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL

DISCUSSION

The Council of the New Zealand Rugby Union, at a meeting in Wellington last night, decided to recommend to the annual meeting of delegates today that no international, Ranfurly Shield or Prince of Wales Cup matches shall be played while the war is in pro- ° The motion was moved by Mr. D. Al. Speddlng (Otago). . The chairman, Mr. S. S. Dean, agreed that no matches should be played which would interfere with reeriiiting for the military forces. IMr. J. Prendeville said that as far as the playing of the Prince of Wales Cup match was concerned, this would be out of the question, as most of the ■Maori players were in camp. Mr. G. A. Maddison (Hawkes Bay) said that the union should confine play to games which : could be played at the weekends. “We should have all the fun we can without interfering with the war effort of the country.” he said. He did not see, however, why the North Island' v. South Island match should not be played, provided the proceeds were devoted to some patriotic fund. Mr. J. 11. Parker could not agree with this view. He did not cpnsidei that the name of any player should be placed on the interisland shield while better men were away fighting for their country. Mr. Dean said that he had had interviews with the army authorities, who had stated that they were anxious to have matches by military teams for recruiting purposes. Mr. Spedding said that Otago would be glad to have a match with a army team in Dunedin for recruiting purposes, as they had no military camp in the province. Mr. L. J. Carmine, the presidentelect, said that the intention in Auckland was that army teams should compete in the local championship competitions. He could see no reason why Ranfurly Shield matches should not be played in the South Island, for instance. They should do all in their power to encourage the lads of New Zeahind to keep physically fit for the sterner tasks which might lie ahead. Mr. L. R. Lopdell (Southland) said that his province held the Ranfurly Shield, and if it were decided to continue shield matches there might be a danger that some players might be tempted to remain at home to defend the shield instead of going overseas to fight for the Empire. Mr. Parker said that players could keep fit with their club games. They did not want men trotting around playing football, when there was an urgent call for maximum production. Mr. Spedding’s motion was-carried unanimously. • No Organized Toiirs.

On tthe motion of Mr. A. St. C. Belcher (Auckland), seconded by Mr. Maddison, it was decided to recommend to the annual meeting that no organized tours be undertaken during the -war, and that representative matches be confined to weekend and holiday games. It was also decided to recommend that the annual insterisland match be postponed during the war. Dr. G. J. Adams (b •imranui) moved that it be a recommem itlon to the incoming council to do us utmost to organize matches between teams from military camps, the proceeds to be devoted to providing sports material for the troops in New Zealand and overseas, all matches with provinces to be arranged through the New Zealand Union. Petrol for Footballers. Mr. Dean reported that be had interviewed the Hon. D. G. Sullivan and the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Laurenson, who had assured him that petrol would be available to convey Rugby players to matches, so long as the distribution was under control and was not abused. Rugby unions, said Mr. Dean, could get all the petrol they wanted provided they appointed a reputable person in the district to safeguard the department and the union. Where transport services were available. footballers would have to travel by them. On the motion of Mr. Dean, it was agreed to extend the rate of interest on loans to unions at 2$ per cent, for the duration of the war. Minor Unions’ Match. Mr. E. McKenzie, sole selector for the New Zealand Union, reported that no good purpose was served by continuing to hold the minor unions’ interisland match, and it was decided to drop the fixture.