FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3145, 24 March 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

, PROFESSIONALISM. SPORTS FEDERATION'S . DECISION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received March 23, 10.20 a.m. SYDNEY, March 23. The Sporting Federation considered the case of Miller, whom the Amateur Athletic Association had admitted asan amateur, but the Rugby ; Union considered a professional because he had played with the Rugby League Federation. The Federation affirmed that a professional in one branch of sport is a professional in every other branch. The annual meeting of , the Red Star Club will he held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms, at 8 o'clock on Saturday evening next. The annual report of the N.S.W. Rugby Union contains the following: —"Having in view the extended leave obtained by the membe'rs of the Australian team for ( the tour Vif Britain and America, and the very short period between their return and the next playing season, your council arranged with the New Zealand Rugby Union to postpone the visit of an Australian team to New Zealand from 1909 season until season 1910. The terms and conditions of the interchange of visits are still under the consideration of the council." Annual meetings are being held just now, and there is a good deal of enthusiasm in the air (says the "Sydney Mail" of March 10th.) At the meeting of the Glebe Club the speeches delivered more or less showed the trend towards a mora liberal allowance by the governing body to the players, even at a cost of breaking away from the English Rugby Union. Dr. Bohrsmann, in the course of his remarks, said J"he recognised the time -was coming when Niw South Wales could no longer keep under the rules of the English Union unless thsy were altered. If not, they would have to form an Australasian Ui)ion. The conditions which favoured the , wealthy classes in the Old Country would not suit a democratic country Ike New South Wales. He could assure them that the conditions of the players would be greatly improved this year." The Australian League teani were defeated by England by 14 points to 7. England secured 4 goals 2 tries to Australia's 2 goals 1 try. The record of the team is: Played 44, won 16, lost 22, drawn 6. The points scored were 503 to 465. The London "Sportsman," of January 29th, writing upon the financial results of the tour, said: —The Australian professionals can hardly be satisfied at the financial result of their present tour under the auspices of the Northern Union. The gates have, with few exceptions, been pjor. At Keighley last Tuesday only £2O was taken, though the sixpenny tickets may bring the total up to £25. Only £23 was taken at Widnes and £25 at Batley. Thus the Australians do not appear likely to take £5,000 in their tour, whereas the New Zealanders last year took over £IO,OOO. At present the Australians' takings only amount to a little over £3,000. As a matter ef fact, the bulk of the players have not their return passage home booked. They are each receiving £1 a week pocket money, and it is likely that this allowance will be reduced before the tour is over, while the numerical strength of the party will be re duced in the next few weeks. MrGiltina" has to return home for business reasons, and it is expected that about a dozen players who have been practically unemployed since the tour commenced will return with him.