PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2118, 28 June 1907, Page 3

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

PROPOSED AUSTRALIAN RECRUITING. FOOTBALL OFFICIAL’S OPINIONS.

United Press Association —Copyright Received June 27, 11,37 p.m. SYDNEY, June 27.

A statement that the promoters of the New Zealand professional team eonltomplwted strengthening their forces by the addition of Sydney players has occasioned some comment in Rugby circles. Several officials have made it tolerably certain that the Now South Wales Union would not fall into the fatal error made by New Zoaland of attempting to bind players by a statutory declaration. If anyone, under the jurisdiction of the Union, saw fit to go they would simply liavo an effective send-off in the way of a disqualification and might go whither they listed. Mr. Green, a member of the management committee of the Union, said .he did not think much help would bo gven here. For his part if any player showed the least, inclination to go, ho would say, “Let him go at once—we are better without him.” , . Mr. Hill, secretai-y of the Union, said: “Most of our players are in fairly good positions and play the game for the pure love of it.” He had no anxiety about the movement getting a hold in tins State. Mr. Lowe, secretary of the Metropolitan Union, believed there was not the slightest chance of their players taking the trip on. At the most a player would make £2OO for 6 months’ work with all the attendant risks. The bulk of the money would go to the promoters. It looked to im as if' an attempt were being made to push some of the trouble stirred up in New Zealand on to us, but if occasion arose his _ Union would tako action quick and lively to deal with men who encouraged the proposal.