IN SIGHT

NZ Truth, Issue 1192, 4 October 1928, Page 16

IN SIGHT

Peace In Auckland Soccer i_ifei ;

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) Prospects are that before the week is out an announcement will be made to the effect that the cleavage m the Auokland Football Association has been bridged. THOUGH the rift m the lute has only been m existence for something like four months, that has been long enough to make serious inroads into the affairs of the A.F.A., which has been forced to resort to hitherto untried sources for revenue to keep the wolf from the door. , Nothing has been allowed to leak. out as to the basis of settlement and lately the -negotiations between the. businessmen's committee, who are the peace-maket.s; 1 ' a,nd tbe parties to the 1 dispute have been cloalted In secrecy. It will likely be found that the code will be more pronouncedly eectlonallzed into three or probably four distinct divisions. Each division will have self control ' to a certain degree and government by " the clubs subject to supervision by. a "management" committee . or control board composed of disinterested members. *' There is much to commend this system because It will create a more Intimate interest amongst the clubs m their own affairs, but what will be more material by far is that the system may remove mucH'pf the scepticism, m fact, suspicion, that' rankled m the minds of some!. clubs-r7-although: without .much foundation m fadt— -of official antagonism. V THE TERMS ■ ' i ; '; .. v -i ' •' Before any t definite steps can,, how \ ievei. be taken towards cementirig the new friendships : the New , Zealand Council may want to speak their lines. Very probably the powers that be m Wellington, acting under the influence of their advisers on .the. spot In Auckland, will be content to forgive the transgressors their acts of ,mis J demeanor by means' of a. general pardon 'm, case. . any „ other action may prejudice a settlement. It is, of course, a very trying and complicated position for the controlling body ih New Zealand. : 'They are faced,, with, the ..fact - that because. ( 6f-'an unconstitutional and illegal act a club; leaves recognized authority. In the face of an official ..announceoment of the consequences of "their i action '-'the 'Offender s set.-up a- rival-as-, which' automatically r dis r qualified, all participants sine "die: \ \ Reinstatement is easy and must be ..^granted the "malcontents" before the "■'"peaße settlement, which ia imminent, y'can lie consummated. 'But. thereby the 1 . N.Z.F.A. creates a precedent ' ..tha.t is ;.'fraughtv with dangerous possibilities. ■ /.. }/7__Tdt, .there is every ground -for stat;lT_g that unless free pardons are /given, /sthe_;e.ls that 'strange Celtic loyalty y .^ambngst the clubs , which formed the ;.' .Suburban Association to insist on this '-'- ais a condition of settlement.