RUGBY FAIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1930, Page 6

RUGBY FAIRY

APPEAL TO NEW ZEALAND. NEW SOUTH WALES’ TROUBLES. SYDNEY, October 16. The New South Wales Rugby Union still has hopes that the New Zealand Union will come to its assistance and waive its share of the proceeds of the matches played in Australia by the British team The amount involved is £1245.

The keen desire of the New South Wales Union that the Dominion Union should act as a sort of fairy godmother will he realised when it is known if New Zealand insists upon its claim New South Wales will lose £789 on last season’s operations. New Zealand has promised to consider the matter as soon as the Union is in session and detailed accounts are received of the matches that were played in Queensland and Victorih. It should not be imagined that the loss was due to the British tour. Far from it. Receipts in Sydney from club matches last season showed an increase of £336 compared with the previous year, but there was a falling off of £260 in the sale of membership badges. The principal losses were: New South Wales tour of Queensland and the Queensland tour of Ne>w South Wales, £150; Victorian visit to New South Wales, £l9B.

The New South Wales Union must be given full credit for its developmental work as far as the side is concerned. It has shown great enterprise in carrying the war into the enemy’s camp, as it were, lor had it not been for its activities the League game would have held unchallenged sway in Qeuensland. Now Rugby Union is living again, and there is a good chance of a return to public favour, especially as the League-ites are divided. Great courage was shown, also, in the endeavour to open up the game in Victoria, the headquarters of the Australian Game.. The waiving by the New Zealand Union of the £1245 will mean a great deal to Rugby in Australia.

The New South Wales Union has also accepted an invitation to send a team to South Africa in 1933, providing the New Zealand Union will forego the scheduled tour by an Australian team in that year. It is of interest to add that newspapers, discussing Rugby finances, have been making much of the £30,000 profit which the New Zealand Union is supposed to have made out of the British tour.