FOOTBALL IN TE KUITI IN 1920.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 294, 14 September 1910, Page 2

FOOTBALL IN TE KUITI IN 1920.

(By W.D., Moeatoa.) Poor Dan Leno used to sing "Will football be a trade alone, and cease to be a game?" Such were my thoughts when I read the news that a section of Te Kuiti footballers had gone over from the amateur side to join the league where £ s d is an easy first in the matter of sport. Such an action preyed upon my mind so much that last night I had a very bad time of it. The first thing revealed to me by the "writing on the wall" was Te Kuiti League players buying up the "Chronicle" and transposing that dignified journal into the "Football Chronicle." The illustration above the editorial notes was a football and, of course, it was written, edited, published and retailed by footballer's. This is what I read in its first issue about a football match played by the Leaguers: —"The players (by kind permission of the Northern Union) trooped upon the field. The referee (appointed by the Arbitration Court) blew his whistle (purchased at the offices of the Northern Union made by New Zealand labour, at trade union prices, the proceeds of which go to the accident fund of the Northern Union) for the game to commence. The home centre - forward (receiving by order of the Northern Union, £lO per week in winter and £7 in summer, with extra £2 for every match played in, with additional £1 for every win and the same for a draw away from home, and 15 per cent, of the gross gate every fourth match) kicked off in the presence of 30,000 spectators (certified and found correct by the auditors of the N.U.L.) The ball (supplied by the N.U. Supply stores, special terms on taking a quantity) was passed to the left wing, but the outside man allowed the ball to pass out of play, and on receiving a second pass thus early in the game made a public protest. A meeting of the appeals committee of the N.U. was immediately called on the field of play (while the band played "Britains Never Shall be Slaves") and it transpired that the left-winger was only in receipt of £4 a week all the year round, whereas the centre-forward was in receipt of the amount aforementioned. The secretary of the N.U. thereupon issued an ultimatum that unless the left's wages were raised to that of the centre-forward, the team would be withdrawn from the field of play. The officials of the club, fearing a riot, agreed, and the game was resumed, the left-winger hereupon putting in a fine straight run along the line. The opposing full back refused to stop him on the ground that he had just discovered that the opposing full-hack was receiving sixpence per week more than himself, and a try was consequently scored. A further meeting was then called within the penalty area and the suggestion was made by a club official that a good way out of the difficulty would be to reduce the full-back's salary by sixpence and so level the amount received, but the players indignantly refused to countenance this, and it was unanimously decided to recommend that the club official be suspended sine die for his very unfair and one-sided view of the matter. Hereupon the scorer of the try demanded talent money to the extent of £5 for the try, and, unless this was agreed to the N.U. again threatened to withdraw the players of both sides. The demands being granted the game continued, etc." Another interesting item was the report of a maiden speech made in Parliament by a Te Kuiti Football M.P., thus: —"My opinion, gentlemen, ia that you're all a bit 'off-side' on the 'point' brought 'forward.' Now that you 'corner' me I admit that I'm in favour of free education the same as George Fowlds there. I maintain that every child should be educated in the science and art of manipulating the leather. Teach a lad to dribble and take a pass on the run, and moreover to kick from all positions, and his education will not, I consider, have been neglected. But let's 'pass' on. I am in iavour of old-age pensions—for all footballers when they reach the age of thirty, and I am in favour of Protection for full-backs. That reminds me. I remember the last match I played in at Te Kuiti, I was running full tilt down the line, and after knocking the opposing back over the line — eh. We're not discussing football, do you say? All right, referee —Mr Speaker, that is to say. Speaking of Education, then, what does William Shakespeare say in his "Winter's Tale" 'To the goal' he suggests, and you will remember what Billy also said in the same play—'let me pass.' I'm, in favour of all school children being provided with free footballs instead of free meals." (Loud cheers). "Fashion Notes," which had been much neglected in the past, had a new feature in this ideal football paper. Ifc had a paper pattern department which supplied patterns of regulation knickers. There was also a paragraph in the correspondence column written by Mrs Grundy objecting to low necks in football jerseys. She hoped that fashion plates for jerseys would be introduced and went on to discuss whether they should be embroidered or not. A "special feet-ure" was a column on the care of the feet by a leading chiropodist, with half-tone illustrations of the feet of prominent players, as compared with the feet of Napoleon, Wellington, and such like "minor lights" of the past. "Over the Teacupß" was the title of the column devoted to the ladies. The principal items of importance were all sorts of football scandal about non-union men, officials, etc., and "Household Hints" gave advice on such ailments, as "footballer's knee."