FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 274, 29 April 1915, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

THE, SOUTHERN LEAGUE UNION. PRO-POSED VISIT TO AUSTRALIA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, April 28. At a meeting of the New Zealand Rugby 'Football League to-night, the proposed Australian tour, which has been the subject of so much criticism, was discussed. The matter was brought up by the reading of a cablegram from the s'ecretary of the South Wales League, which stated that his committee had decided to adhere to the original programme. Mr. James Carlew, president of the New Zealand League, explained that as an invitation was received to tour Australia, the first match to be played in Sydney on June 5, the New Zealand League had agreed to tour, providing matches were not played until August. They had all seen the criticism in regard* to the New Zealand League's acceptance of the invitation. Critics seemed to be of the opinion that the objeet of the tour was to make money, but such was not the case. The New Zealand League's idea was simply to repay a visit made by the New South .Wales team last year. They were not out to make money, but to foster the game. He advocated that the New Zealand League's share of the profits should he handed over to the New Zealand Belgian Fund, but of course could not say what the New South Wales League would do with its share of the profits. He proposed that, provided the New South Wales League would agrjje to the dates suggested by the New Zealand League, the tour should take place, and that the net proceeds be handed over to the New Zealand Belgian Fund. 'Mr. A. Gladding, in seconding the resolution, said tie Sydney papers had not looked at the matter in the right light. The New Zealand League would not do anything to stop recruiting. - Mr. W. W. McLaren said the challenge came from New South Wales, and. al" though the Sydney papers had made a great song about this tour, nothing had been said about other towns and the continuance of racing. He resented the biased Press criticism, and said they were not out for the particular purpose of making morcy. Football tended to W-ep men lic:i!tliv in bodv and mind. Mr. P. S. Usher stated'that the Belgian Fund would benefit to the extent of m-iirly E.'iOO if the tour was as successful as last season's. The motion was carried unanimously. The matter was also discussed by the Auckland branch of the League, which also met to-night, and it was unanimously resolved that in view of the present crisis, and the depletion of representative ranks, the time was inopportune to send a team to Australia.