FOOTBALL IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1921, Page 6

FOOTBALL IN TARANAKI.

SEASON COMING TO A CLOSE. THE WORK OF THE UNION. Some interesting observations on the progress of football in Taranaki this season, and the position of the spoit generally from the official viewpoint, were given by the chairman of the Taranaki Rugby Union (Mr. J. McLeod) in responding to the toast of the Taranaki Rugby Union at the Star Club's social gathering on Saturday night. Regarding the question of rough play, which was mentioned during the evening, Mr. McLeod said he thought there had been less of this class of offence in Taranaki during the season than for years past. Punishment had been meted out, and whatever the view of the men concerned was, what the union had to consider was the public, to whom they looked for support; if the play was not clean this support would not be forthcoming. The union had two objects, therefore, viz., not only to keep the game clean, but also to preserve and maintain the confidence of the public. The public in Taranaki had shown their interest in the game this season to a greater extent than for many years past. The union had been able to pay from 50 to 75 per cent, of the travelling expenses of first-,evade players in this province only by the support coming from the public. What this meant could be realised when he stated that it had been costing £-100 per week to run the union, and the money had been found from chib gates. In the past, even in New’ Plymouth, a £6 to £8 gate had been considered good, but by inaugurating a new scheme the public had responded very well.

MONEY TO BUY GROUNDS. Mr. McLeod said that the Taranaki Rugby Union, which had never carried forward more than £lOO in its history, would finish this year with about £lOOO in hand. He was not giving this information to show that the Taranaki Rugby Union was accumulating money; such would not be Iheir policy. . The money would be used for the purpose of securing grounds in the province. Unfortunately they did not own .any grounds at present. They would have to secure playing areas at New Plymouth, Stratford and Hawcra. There was no'difficulty as regards New Plymouth, for they had public grounds on which money could be spent with confidence.

Another direction in which the union would use funds was the encouragement of junior football. Up to the present it had not been possible to do this, because they did not have the money. Three years ago a scheme had been promoted to maintain interest in primary school football, and now about fifty teams were engaged in mis competition. Still further attention would be devoted to this sphere, because if they could keep up the interest in the primary schools there was no fear of a fourth grade, and possibly a fifth, not being maintained. It would be the endeavor of the union to assist clubs in the travelling expenses of junior teams, and he believed the time had come when all reasonable expenses should be refunded to players. This could only be done by the union keeping a grip on all gate moneys. In this connection the question arose of clubs issuing honorary members’ tickets, as these tended to pull down the gate receipts.

THE REP. TEAM. Referring to representative matches, Mr. McLeod said he thought Taranaki had done as well as could have been expected in their match against Auckland that day. Considering that over fifty players had donned the representative jersey this season, it must have been very nearly a third team that went to Auckland. In regard to The choosing of the teams, he thought that a lot of criticism which was very unfair had been made against the selector. It was quite common to hear a question as to why a certain player had not been included. Often he (the speaker) could give the reason, but it was not politic to do so. There were cases in which players were not in a position to take part in a match, and instances also occurred where men were left out because they had not kept faith with the union. The blame was on the individual if he did not put his province before his own convenience.

They played Rugby as it was a sport, as it afforded recreation to the public, and because it was a man’s game; it had to bo played in the team spirit, and held no place for the man who was a lone-hander. In referring to the match against the Springboks, Mr. McLeod said that while a great deal of credit tfas due to the men who played, the display could also bo set down very largely to the wonderful influence which Mr. A. L. Humphries (coach) had over the team, who were inspired by him. They were taught they could not be beaten, and all would agree that such tackling as Taranaki displayed on that occasion had never been seen before. On Saturday New Zealand would be fighting for the blue ribbon of Rugby, and he believed that before the hour of the match the team would also be inspired by someone to play as they had never done before. Whichever way it went, the people would wish them to play it for New Zealand, clean, good and hard.