FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8093, 25 April 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND BUGBY UNION. f PEOFITS OF "ALL BLACKS" #s' TOUB. m raw asiocuthw. Vtwumto*, April 84. The following are tho profits made by the "All Blacks" since their selection in the early part of last year i profits Jrom matohea played in New Zealand £5Ol, Sydney £663, Usited Kingdom, France and America £8,908. The total reeeipts outside of New Zealand and Australia were £14,971 and the expenditure £6,068. The match North v. South, prior to ,fho team leaving for England, resulted' in ' a profit of £6l. The New Zealand Union has now a sum of £IB,OOO on fixed deposit, and the value ol its assets exceed the liabilities by £12,086, As evidenoe of the growth of tho Union, it is mentioned in the report that during the past two years the number of committee meetings for , the year increased from six in 1900 to 29 in 1905, the latter constituting a record. Tho committee regret that the number of disqualifications show* no signs of diminishing. Mr G.i Dixon, manager' of the " All Blacks," in his report, recommends that in any future tours not more than twenty-five matches be played, that the number of men be restricted to not more thin twenty-seven, that two Internationale should be played in the early part of the tour, and that the men should have at least a week's spell before each International.

" The case of Sootland v. New Zea- )n land" forma the subject of some rery v" straight talk by a eandid critic in " 0, B. Pry's Magwsine" for Mareh. He declares that the treatment of the i New Zealand footballers in Scotland ii " for ever a blot upon the fair fame of Scottish hospitality." That this treat- < ment is no imagination may, he says, ' bo clearly shown by narrating the series of things which happened which should not have happened: (I) Befusal to give dates. (2) Befusal to award caps to the Scottish team, whieh at once brought the game down"to the level of a mere exhibition, a decision that was in itself a slur on the Sew Zealanders. (3) Non-protection of the ground from frost or snow, (4) Colonials given no option in choice of ball. (5) Chilling reception by the 5 crowd of a great victory won' in the . ! last four minutes, by a feat of scoring " on such a pitch that was probably quite beyond the powers of an? other ■■ team that has ever played! (6) Wrongful accusations of rough and foul play by writers of the press. In J IMs matter no blame can be attached to the players or officials. (7) Ignoring of the guests by the Scottish ' players. In the same issue the much* debated question,'"Did New Zealand ' Score Against Wales?' is also reviewed by the candid critic, whose verdict is that the weight of evidenoo is all in favor of an affirmative reply, "Never,", he conclude*, "was try more truly scored."' -i ,

THE ABSOCIATIO.V GAME. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Association Football Club * was well attended last night, Mr 8. Clark presiding. The accounts showed a credit v .- balanoo of 12s.—Adopted. It was decided to enter two teams —' for the cup competitions. The East End and West End teams of last year were re-named Athletic and Albion respectively, Athletics to wear red and the Albums white shirts and dark knickers. Officers were elected: President, Mr R. Cock; vice-presidents, Messrs W. , Ambary, A. Ambury, H. P. Bussell, Dr Walker, Dr|Wyfie, B. Stewart and J. Paul; seoretary and treasurer, Mr R. Newton; committee, Messrs Newton and Bullock (Athletio), Saunders -S and R. Ambury (Albion); selection committee, the two club captains and S. Clark. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr R. B. Beid, the retiring secretary, The subscriptions were fixed at 2s 6d for honorary and 6s for active members, all subscriptions t» be paid before a member is allowed to play in club games, Mr W. Sohlierlke offered the free use of his Brougham street olub rooms for meotings,—Accepted with thanks. The New Plymouth Olub plays a friendly game against Frenui on Thursday afternoon, this being the the oountry club's first inter-club , fixture. The town olub will be repr.. scnted byi Smart, Hartley, ColbrJc, Bullook, Saunders, Ambury (2), Kewton, Coates.

Mr S. Clark, late skipper of the New Plymouth Club, has retired from active part in the,game, and will handle the whittle this season. Says the Eltham " Argus "i An Association football elub has been formed at Kaponga v It is to be hoped that the Stratford enthusiasts will now get a move on, in which case a subdivision of the Taranaki Union with Hawera, Eltham, Stratford and Kaponga in the Southern portion, and the Waitara, Inglewood, Urenui and Now Plymouth clubs in the Northern, would be an excellent arrangement.