FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 69, 12 September 1911, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TWICE AS MUCH AS ANYWHERE I THE RUGBY UNION' CONDEMNED. 1 "Sticky Fingers" writes: —Why should the public of Taranaki be compelled to pay twice as much as the people of Wellington, Canterbury, Dunedin, Wanganui, Southland and the West Coast to see our team play a game of football on their own ground, a ground which has been made and is supported by the people? Nine out of every ten people who support football are asking this question, and the answer they receive is that the Rugby Union have decided to charge two shillings; 'therefore two shillings must be paid. The Rugby Union, I understand, are a committee appointed annually by the various foofci ball clubs of the province for the purpose of controlling and improving club and interprovincial football. > This year Taranaki have a team of which they are justly proud, but very little, if any, of the team's success is due to the Rugby Union. No effort has been made by the Union to improve the team, either in j the matter of training, method, or com-1 bination. They have simply picked the teams, and left the rest to chance. The success of the present team is due to two facts-: First, we have splendid material amongst our football players; and, second, the players recognising that success cannot be gained without condition, have gone in for a systematic course of training on their own, with no assistance or advice from the Rugby Union. Those who have seeii the earlier matches played must admit that although the men were fit, there was no method or combination in their play, and no effort was utiade by the Rugby Union to improve the method or combination. Play-

ing on tour, However, nas ueen me inmiis of supplying what was previously lacking, with the result that we have what is generally ' acknowledged as the best football team in Mew Zealand. As I have previously remarked, we are. veryproud of our team, and I have not the least <loubt that the Rugby Union are proud of them also, and will take full credit for their success, whether they deserve it or not. . There is one matter in connection with interprovincial football with which the Rugbv Union is always deeply concerned, and that, is the gate. I am prepared to-give tliem full credit for/ this. Like the showman with a new prodigy, they see a splendid' opportunity, They argue thus: "The best team Taranaki ever had; it will be a great match; the public will roll up in strong force; there will be a good gate; there will be quite . as much interest in this match as, there was in the last English match, and" we charged two shillings then. Why not try it again? The'public will growl a ' bit, but on the day will roll up and pay, and after the match forget all about it." Sot much of a compliment to the public, or the team, and not calculated to elevate Rugby football in the public mind. But the gate,' gee whiz! Five thousand at one shilling, no '.dead heads, means £250; at two shillings, £SOO. Pity we can't charge them all two shillings each. This charge either is or is not warranted. If the Rugby Union are bankrupt and cannot pay their just debts, let • them publish a clear statement of receipts and expenditure showing their position, and if they cannot make both ends meet they can depend upon the support of the public. If they can meet Iheir liabilities, then they should not take a mean advantage of their best friends, the public, without the support of whom there would be 110 interprovincial football, and no grounds worth calling such. Scxt year will, be a good one for revenue, as a large number of matches will be played here.