PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 58

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

* THE" PEOFESSIONAL GAME: - - -" ATTEMPTS TO PLANT'iPT .- _, . . . ' AUCKLAND, January 7. . -Mr TfJ. O'Faarrell,- who is; closely identi-fied-_with_jDrofessional football in Australia, is'visitinig Auckland.., He said tliat the movement had obtained- a." very strong hold in. the * Commonwealth.- " Be— had- inter-" viewed -several leading , players -here, "and found that -there/ was little doubt that, professional, football-has oome to stay, -despite the.laot that the Rugby.Union Kad mbnop'o;lised th% best grounds.; The? |>ro." Blacks, on" their return, "would give life .tor the -Tnovementjjin' Auckland,, and "it wouldbe -worked for all It- was. 'worth. _ Intercolonial matches ..would- be .-played, .and -it ■was-hoEed~thaVa New-Z ealand professional" team would .visit Sydney "next - season. ' " *"" - - " . - --" January 11." - The- announcement ;from -'Wellington that a well-known syndicate' is prepared fo. comeforward .with" a sum exceeding" £20,000 for the -purtKse of systematically exploiting -Rugby' football, as played under the professional code in the will not vhave caused mucih 'surprise to those intimately connected with the followers of the game here. Thoueh. astonishment, and even doubt,

might be expressed at the large amount, it is known that „ the movement is being worked up in Auckland in a systematic manner, though- the greatest secrecy is being observed *in connection with all that is done. ■ Northern Union literature is being disseminated in the city among players and others. From what can be learnt, an attempt vnlV be made to get professional football going in" Auckland and other parte of the Dominion, especially in Wellington, in time for next season, and an endeavour will be made to get a ground at Kingsland. • A prominent member of the Auckland Kugby Union.when asked what steps were being taken to counteract the movement replied that nothing had been done bo far, as- they-bad nothing tangible to go- upon. In any: case-; the New Zealand Uniob is hkelyt© be better- informed than, the Jodal unrons,. and the parent body would soon decide upon action and advise the provincial unions accordingly. -'" -