THE RUGBY LEAGUE CODE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2871, 16 April 1925, Page 4

THE RUGBY LEAGUE CODE.

Mr Ilamniill, Chairman of the Auckland Rugby League Association paid a visit to Foxton oti League inalters on Tuesday. In conversation with our representative, Mr Hainniill said lie had just returned from Wellington where he had been attending the conference of New Zealand Rugby League relepresentatives. The conference was a most enthusiastic one and he was pleased to report that Otago had now joined up with the League. The new aspirants to the code have already displayed their enthusiasm by acquiring 28 acres of land in Dunedin for a playing area and already have seven senior teams to place in the field. Speaking on League generally, Mr Hammill said that League was the first sports body in New Zealand to publish an audited balance sheet. Similarly it was the first to inaugurate the insurance of players. They contended that if a game was worth seeing played and there was the slightest chance of au accident to any individual player, then the first consideration from gate money should be to the protection of players. Hence a particularly fine insurance scheme had been arranged, in Auckland disabled players received £3 per week for injury and £2OO was payable in the case of death. Besides this old League players had joined themselves into a glee club and in the event of a player being injured a concert was arranged for his benefit and in no rase had lie known less than £3O to have, been raised. Insurance was free to all players and all players were admitted to all games free of charge. Touring rep. team's were allowed 10s per day out of pocket money. League had been the first sports body to organise a charity day and substantial sums were raised each year and donated to charities, main fixtures being played on such occasions. In this manner League had raised over £4,000. League was the first winter sports body in New Zealand to own its own grounds. Speaking on the question of grounds, Mr Hamill said it was four rears now since i ho.v had taken over Carlaw Park at. Auckland and during that time £0,260 had been expended on the ground. It was now proposed to raise £7OOO for the building of an up-to-date grand stand, and their aim was to male Carlaw Park second to none in the Dominion. He said League closed its grounds to no genuine sports body. Rugby, soccer and hockey had last year used the park. Christchurch had just acquired 33 acres of ground for playing area and two grounds were now in order and a -Land to accommodate 1006 people had been erected. Mr Hammill is shortly to take the M. 0.8. League team of Auckland to tho southern town to open the park with a rep match. Ho considers the prospects very good for League this season and it i- anticipated that a rep team will tour Australia this year and England next year. An Auckland rep. team is to tour New Zealand this year also and it was quite possible a game could lie arranged to be placed locally. Air Hammill said League’s aim was to give the public a clean lasi and spectacular game, and judging by results as disclosed by their balance sheet and public opinion League was finding a warm spot in the hearts of all lovers of tin sport. Auckland alone has 1400 League players, which will give some idea of the progress that is being made in New Zealand.