TRANSFER OF PLAYERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 41, 18 February 1930, Page 13

TRANSFER OF PLAYERS

LEAGUE FOOTBALU APPEAL

POSITION 5*

During the past few feeasons prominent footballers In New Zealand have been approached to play for League football clubs in England, and in a number of cases the offers have been accepted. The matter has caused the New Zealand League football authorities gome concern and they have been compelled to draw the attention of English clubs to the position in which New Zealand clubs are placed with regard to the transfer of players. The following circular letter has been sent to League football clubs in England:—

"The New Zealand Eugby Football League have asked the permission of the English League to bring the following facts to the notice of your club, in the hope that your support will be forthcoming to right a wrong under the influence of which League football in New Zealand is languishing, and, indeed, without some redress, and that quickly, will cease to exist.. "The position at present is as follows: —League football in New Zealand is conducted on purely amateur lines, and the expenses of the clubs are met by subscriptions and donations f torn supporters and players. Gate money is retained by the provincial leagues, and clubs are not in receipt of any proportion of gate money. Clubs have no financial hold over their players, they not being in receipt of monetary recompense for playing football. ; Consequently a club whose supporters have gone to expense and trouble to get together a good team have no redress if one or more of their players sign np with English clubs. No English club would sanction such a state of affairs in reference to their own players, and we earnestly urge your support in terminating such an iniquitous position. We ask that the New Zealand Eugby League be placed in the same position as your clubs with respect to the transfer of players. "We confidently appeal to your club on the grounds of sportsmanship and fair dealing to support us in our claim, and instruct your delegates to bring tho matter up at the next meeting of the English Council so that we receive the consideration to which, wf assert, •we arc entitled."