INSURANCE OF FOOTBALLERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5267, 27 April 1928, Page 2

INSURANCE OF FOOTBALLERS.

CTo the Editor.! Sir, —In your issue of the 20th tnet. you pubis'hed a- report of a meeting of the manfcgemqnt committee of the Paeroa Rugby Union; at which was discussed the advisability of that union founding an insurance fund for the benefit of injured players. The secretary was credited with having quoted an official of the Plains Union, to the effect that the insurance scheme ip. force on the Plains had failed during one year but had paid its way last season ; also that difficulty had been experienced in collect' ing premiums from players. These ” statements are a gross misrepresentation of the facts, and tend! to disr credit a scheme which has succeeded so far in a greater measure than was anticipated. In-, the first place the Plains scheme hap been in existence for one season only, and despite adverse circumstances. in the shape of an unusual number of serious acciby which several playejrs, both sen’or anil junior, .have received maximum and approaching maximum benefits, the fund furnished t'he sear soni in. credit to the extent of threetflfths of the levy on clubs. <,.» The rules formulated 1 by the insurance committee, and adopted by the Union, provided for the collection of premiums by a club official. These were, to be handed to the rjeferee prior to the commencement of the game together with a list of the insured players. As one who refwped on several occasions last season, I can vouch for the fact that as far as the games under my control were conceited there was no effort required on the part of the referee or collector to obtain the premiums. The only confusion experienced was wliem a union official took upon .himself on one or two occasions to usurp th© duty of the club .collector.. The meiit of the scheme Is reflected in the unanimous resolve of the club delegates who constitute the Plains Union to carry on with the scheme. The Paeroa union knows its own business best, but, while not wishing to appear to dictate a. policy to that 5 body, I would like respectfully to point out an aspect of the matter that may have escaped the notice, of the members of the Paeroa Union, and which is the ruling motive in the formation of all Rugby Union insurance funds. The function of a Rugby union is to contrpl and make for the betterment of the) game, and, inter alia, this embraces the welfare of the players. It is Well, known to ' everybody that youths and men of the Rugby playing age arei a. happy lot who consider the game for the enjoyment they get out of it, without serh bus thought for the consequence of accident, serious or otherwise, until circumstances make them the victimsIt is when a youth earning a small wage meets with accident oh the foot- jball field, is thrown out of work forhTsometimes a considerable period, incurs medical and hospital expenses, that the sheer necessity for a measure of protection by insurance becomes apparent. On the one hand the victim emerges often without a cent, possibly no work to return to, anil a fe.eling of dependence op his fellowplayers to assiist him out of the hole that he has been put in by his love pf the game. On the other hand, he emerges with a' feeling that he has something coming to him to assist him over his period of, convalescence

and a knowledge that he owes the doctor nothing. The average footballer has as milch, conscience- and independence of feeling as the man who is past the 'game, ami those feelings are surely deserving of consideration by those in. control of football. A member of the Paeroa Union’s management committee points out that every pilayer should be insured. Quite right; but how many football players are able, to pay in advance the ruinous premium demanded by the few organisations which under-* take insurance of footballers ? The logical alternative for th'e controlling body is to give the players an opportunity of paying a small weekly premium with commensurate benefit in the case of accident. Again.’, how many players have beien lost to the

game through slight accident without cover, and the subsequent fear of something of a more serious nature occurring t Our own little scheme here on. the Plains is not a profit-qarning concern. «« No charges whatever are met out of ? the fund beyond medical expenses and benefits to playeiis. Premiums are adjustable from year to year, and will vary with the state of the funld l at commencement. Last season (the first) only 64' per cent, of the players took advantage of the cover. Despite the; fact that accidents were almost wholly to insurel players, the fund is still going strong, and the Plains Union is confident that in the light of the benefits bestowed last season very few players will fail to avail themselves of the advantages offered by the fund. E. A. MAHONEY. Ngaitea, April 21. ———