PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2101, 8 June 1907, Page 2

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

CONDEMNATION FROM AUS- , TRALIA. United Press Association —Copyright Recoived June 7, 11.26 p.m. SYDNEY, Juno 7. Professionalism in football was severely criticised at a reception given to the Queensland team at the Town Hall.

Mr. Calvert, President of tlio New South Wales Rugby Union, said he saw some danger of the taint of all taints as regards football in the professional game looming nil. He hoped Now South Wales and Queensland would rosolutely set their faces against, it. The moment professionalism entered anything, behind it came that abominable thing, the gambling spirit, and that was the spirit they wanted to keep out of a good manly game like football. The Attorney-General, Mr. Wade, referring to tho damage professionalism caused in England, declared that the higher aspects of the game were entirely lost and it had come to bo a matter of having in one packet a large amount of money and in the other a larger amount of blue metal. Received June 7, 11.40 p.m. Mr. Oaks, a member of the Assembly, said be was glad to see the first attempt to introduce professionalism in New Zealand put down. -The Hon. R. Teeco said it was gratifying that tlio first attempt in Now Zealand had met with such a formidable rebuff. Mr. Lea, manager of the Queensland team, said he did not think there was the slightest chance of professionalism getting a hold in Queensland, but there was always the danger of it creeping in. They had determined to watch and to keep the game clean.