FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 219, 4 February 1913, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

CHANCES OF HOME LEAGUE TEAM ( HERE. j MR. HOUGHTON'S TRTP. ) ~.., .--- I Auckland. January 31. } Mr. "Sam" Houghton, who has been j associated •with the Northern League ■ game in New Zealand since its ineep< tion. has just returned to Auckland from .' the Old Country, where he acted as the j New Zealand League's representative in i placing matters of importance to that body before the English authorities. The New Zealand League has of late I been very anxious to obtain a vi,=it from j a first-class English team this season. | Recognising; that nothing would he more beneficial to the game in New Zealand than a tour of the best exponents of League football, Mr. Houghton placed this matter before the Home authorities. ! and received a very fair and sympathetic j hearing. >

Tlie English League considered the project very favorably, and stated that nothing would please them more than to accede to New Zealand's wishes, but it would obviously he impossible to send a. team to the Dominion without including Australia in the tour. and. in face of the friction between the New South Wales League and the English bodv, they were not prepared to do that. Mr. Houghton, however, states that, in his opinion, the rupture will be healed before long, and he considers that although New Zealand will not he visited this season, the following rear should see an English team out here. With regard to the question of a New Zealand team going Home, he was assured that the Dominion would be given first chance if she wanted it. but. of course, a visit from England would do vastly more good to the game here than, a toiii- of England by a Maorilnnd team.