“FATHERS OF LEAGUE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 May 1927, Page 7

“FATHERS OF LEAGUE”

Justitia writes: I noticed in a recent issue of your paper an article written on the “Father of Rugby League,” and referring to Mr. Jas. Carlaw under that title. This set me pondering over our back history in the League game, and brought back the days when the old-timers (myself included) fought tooth and nail to get even a hearing for the hew code. Without wishing to detract in any way from the work done by Mr. Carlaw (and he has done much), I should like to correct the impression that he is really the “Father” of the code. When Mr. Carlaw first took over the reins of the Auckland League and opened up negotiations for the lease of what is known as “Carlaw Park,” the game was well established with the public, and the fact of being so established made it

possible to enter into these negotiations without fear of failure. The New Zealand League at that time also assisted in the venture, loaning a sum of £7OO and almost depleting its coffers.

Now let us travel back to the other days and the band of men who actually made this possible. When we stop to consider who were the most prominent men in putting League football where it is to-day, we cannot possibly overlook one gentleman, Mr. D. W. McLean, first chairman of the Auckland League and first president of the New Zealand League. Although “Mac” is

now virtually unknown or almost forgotten by the great majority of leaguers, he did sterling work in the years that are gone. Not only in Auckland were his efforts directed, but he was instrumental in starting the game in Canterbury and other places. As the oldest official he could certainly lay claim to being the “Father,” and 1 think rightly so. Then with him were others who boosted the game in those earlier years, I refer to Messrs. E. W. Watts, W. T. Wynyard, B. Brigham Jos. Graham, H. Oakley—not forgetting those who have crossed the great divide, namely Messrs. P. S. Ussher, A. J. Powlev, F. Gladding, and J. B. Morton, with many others I could name who were responsible for the foundation of the game which is now so popular in Auckland and elsewhere. We must surely give credit where credit is due, and recognise the efforts of the pioneers during the years of hard toil, a phase of which many of the present-day officials have no conception and care less. In concluding, let us not forget the greatest pioneer of them all. I refer to the late A. H. Baskerville, the man who left New Zealand with a team, knowing nothing of the new code, and who came back a huge success. What a contrast to the last team who knew so much and who turned out such a failure! What a. fitting tribute it would have been to perpetuate the memery of Baskerville by naming one of the playing fields after him! But no: it was not to be. He is practically forgotten like many others.