FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 14 September 1911, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

TO-DAY'S CONTEST. AUCKLAND AND TARANAKI. Botii teams are in rare buckle for today's contest. The weather at time of writing is none too promising for football, although it is a grand thing for the butter province, and was greatly needed. The ground, however, should be in fair order, and there are some weather-wise who predict that the rain will "take up" and a fine day result. There will be a large crowd present, despite the dissatisfaction expressed in some quarters with the imposition of a charge of two shillings for admission, most people recognising that the Taranaki Rugbv Union is in great need of funds on account of the heavy expense recently incurred and that the fine terraced ground gives every spectator practically a grandstand seat. There are few finer sports ovals in the dominions than this. The match will be n meeting of giants. The visitors have not been defeated this year so far, although they have just made an extensive tour. Taranaki won every match on the southern tour with the exception of that at Greymouth, and they made hacks of Wellington, Canterbury and Otago teams. Taking a line through the results of the Auckland and Taranaki tours, the Amber and Blacks are superior, but there is no certainty about this line of reasoning. The Auckland and Taranaki teams have met on twenty-four occasions, on fifteen- of which Auckland won, seven matches were won by Taranaki, and three were drawn..

Owing to Sellars. one of the Auckland hookers, being unable to take the field, as the result of an injury received in the Wellington match. Tyler has been sent for and ti due to arrive by the Rarawa this ./'morning. Roberts, the .deadly tackier in the three-quarter line, is the principal absentee from the Taranaki team. The teams arc:—

AUCKLAND.—(BIue and White). J. O'Brien. D. Stewart. C. Murray. D. McGregor. W. Oeddes, J. O'Leary. A. Ottersen. J. Hall. J. Barrett. H. Hayward. A. C. Wilson, W. Cunningham, A. Bruce F. Herring, G. A. Tyler. TARANAKL—(Amber and Black). A. Osborne, M. Cain. T. Tamu. O. Young, G. Hawkins H. Whittington, H. Dewar. J. Colman. C. Brown. H. J. Mvnott, J. McLeod. 11. Prince, L.'B. Stohr, D. Cameron, L. Hill. Mr. E. MeKenzie, of the Wairarapa, who will control the game, arrived by the mail train last night. THE TWO SHILLINGS CHARGE. To the Editor. Sir,—As a woman, kindly permit me to protest against the outcry of some of the public against the price of admission to to-day's match. The Union have been to great expense in sending the team south, and they now have to fight the Northern League game, which is booming. All supporters of the Union should pay the two shillings willingly. My sympathy is with the Union and with Mr. McLeod, the manager, who must have had-an anxious time.—l am, £ tc., MRS. TWO-808. THE TWO SHILLING CHARGE. To the Editor.

Sir,—Tn Tuesday's issue of the News. I protested at the charge of two shillings being made by the Rugby Union for admission to the Aueklaml-Taranaki match, and concluded my letter by expressing the opinion that if the Rugby Union adopted a straightforward policy and stated their position clearly to the public, showing them that they were in financial difiiculties, the public would give them their support willingly, even to the extent of paying the two shillings demanded. Mr. McLeod, manager of the team, 'has now done this in a very clear and temperate manner. The explanation given put quite a different aspect upon 1 the whole matter, and it will be accepted and appreciated by the public, I am sure. Why the other members of the Union could not have taken the public into their confidence, I cannot understand. Experience should surely have taught them that the sporting section of the community are always willing to support straight goers, even if they are poor through no fault of their own. I That is one of the strongest claims they can advance to receive the enthusiastic support of the public. There are quite a number here who remember the English match, the last time two shillings was charged. The whole transaction in connection therewith was and is still very obscure. The public will always be found willing to support a deserving cause, providing they are satisfied that it is deserving. There is nothing to bo gained by making comparisons between the grounds in the main centres in the matter of seating accommodation, and our unique ground with its terraces and seating accommodation with a view to justifying the charge of an extra shilling. More than half of those who attend the match will pay from five to fifteen shillings, not counting loss of wages, when railway fares and cost of dinner and tea are taken into consideration. lam sorry also that the question of playing the match elsewhere with a view to getting a larger gate should ever have been raised. -This sort of thing certainly has a tendency to lower the game, and, in my opinion, is playing into the hands of the Northern Union people, who are generally regarded as irt the game for what they can make out of it, while we Rugbyites are perpetually impressing upon the mind of the public that they pJay the game of Rugby purely for sport, ami one of the principal functions of the Rugby Union is to try and keen the game free from even a taint of professionalism. 'ln conclusion, I have to congratulate Mr. McLeod upon his clear explanation of the financial position, and I trust the controversy that has been raised over this question will prove an object lesson to all sports promoters in future to tell the public what they want, and why they want it—l am, etc.. STICKY FINGERS.