THE LEAGUE GAME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3582, 23 July 1912, Page 7

THE LEAGUE GAME.

RETURN OF THE NEY4 ZEALAND TEAM. AN INQUIRY INTO THE “STRIKE” AT SYDNEY. ‘PiJS PHESS ASSOCIATION ] AUCKLAND, July 22. The New Zealand representatives •of the Rugby League game arrived in Auckland this morning by the AA’immera after a successful tour in the Australian Commonwealth. Except for a number of injuries of a minor character the players are in the best of health, and without exception speak enthusiastically of the games and of tho unbounded hospital:itv of the Australian footballers. Mr AYm. Dervan, the well-known Auckland player, who was one of the party, said that the Australians had assured them that they were the best Northern Union combination that had ever visited the'Commonwealth. “f don’t know about that,” said Air Dervan with a laugh, “but taking overtbiiig into consideration we came out with a fair proportion of wins. AYe could never have been expected to get that first match. It was nothing short of murder to take seasick players off the steamer and put us up against a team that had been playing together like a concertina for months,” he added rather expressively. Questioned in regard to the trouble that lias arisen between the New Zealand Council and the team in regard to the arrangements for players to return to the Dominion, the big forward had untiling To say, it having been decided to make nothing public until the whole question is inquired into by the Council. Players express keen annoyance- at the fact that in Sydney they were termed strikers without any oppoitunity having been given them to justify the position they took up in the matte The Council of the New Zealand Rugby League held a meeting this afternoon when the refusal of the team to return to Now Zealand in the evenin o- ; ,fter the last match with New South AVales was discussed. An effort was made to locate the ringleaders in the affair, hut as the whole team had signed the paper refusing to play it was decided to inflict a fine of £2 on each player.

WHAT TRANSPIRED AT THE INQUIRY.

AUCKLAND, July 22. The trouble in regard to the League

footballers which occurred in. Sydney prior to the last match was discussed at a meeting of the Council or the New Zealand Rugby League this al- , tevnoon. ! Mr Mcßeynolds, one of the nianag- ! ers, in his report stated that the men j absolutely refused to go on the held j when they wore told that theyMiad !to go home the same night. 'I hey 1 signed a document to that effect and : in order not to compromise the New ! Zealand League in the eyes of the Sydney public, the managers were compelled to agree to the men’s re--1 quest. 'J'he men gave as a reason that they landed in Australia and had been compelled to play, travel and train continuously, and therefore would not lie fit to go aboard the steamer the same night. ■The Council decided to receive a deputation of the players, of whom Irvine was the spokesman. He repeated the reason given by the managers regarding the continuous travelling, and said that they only got notice on the Friday of the inten- • tion to return to New Zealand on the Saturday night. They were unanimous in their decision not to come home. They were a happy family, hut he thought the tour was hadlv arranged. A. Caslon, one of the deputation, said that had they known the circumstances regarding the Wellington match they would have considered the League’s interests before their own. \Y. Dervar, one of the players, said they knew the risk they were running in refusing to play, hut as some of the men had been hurt in another match they did not cave to go on the steamer straight after the match for fear of similar, accidents. The players withdrew, and the Council, after due consideration, decided to line the men the maximum amount allowed by the rules and to stop a portion of their loss of time payment, j