1934 Auckland Rugby League season

At the annual meeting of the junior management committee on 20 March the report they received showed that the number of players and clubs had increased by over 11% and 14% respectively. Registration fees were an increase on 1932 by £12 4/6. Mr. D. Wilkie was elected chairman, Mr. E. Chapman deputy chairman, while Mr. Mr. W.F. Clarke was elected secretary to replace the long serving and retiring Mr. T.R. Davis.[1] Davis was later appointed as a life member of New Zealand Rugby League, as was Arthur Ball (ex-chairman of the Auckland Rugby League Referees’ Association, and C. Adamson (ex-chairman of the Junior Management Committee).[2]

The annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby League was held in the League Rooms, Grey Buildings, on Monday, 9 April.[3] The report presented showed that the balance-sheet figures improved on the previous season. "The principal of sharing the gate receipts with the clubs competing... has without doubt proved very beneficial in creating the team spirit to improve the standard of play required for No. 1 ground qualification each week-end and also has been reflected in a greater esprit de corps amoungst club members, as well as a correspondingly enhanced friendly rivalry between the contestants that in turn excites public patronage to Carlaw Park". The gate takings were over £400, being available as grants to senior clubs in 1933. The working gate takings were £1,953 12/9 from club matches (an increase of £158). Ground rents of £154 7/ were lower but profits of £196 18/ were recorded from matches with visiting provincial teams. Registered player fees accounted for £99 12/ and this combined with donations and the earlier stated income meant total receipts of £2,636 2/5. Expenditure was £487 17/6 on ground rents, £340 17/2 on maintenance and upkeep of the park and grounds, £175 on staffing grounds and cost to officials, and minor expenses. This meant a balance of £21 4’8 to be carried forward. The profit and loss account showed a surplus of assets valued at £6,415 19/7.

Reference was also made to the services of George Rhodes who had passed away at the end of the 1933 season after many years as chairman of the league.[4] At the annual meeting the following officers were elected: patron, Mr. J.B. Donald; vice-patron, Mr. J.F.W. Dickson; president, Mr. James Carlaw; vice-presidents, Messrs. O. Blackwood, H. Grange, W. Wallace, C. Seagar, R. Benson, C.H. Drysdale, A.E. Laird, John A. Lee, R.H. Wood, R.T. Sharman, J. Donald, Joe Sayegh, J. Lovatt, W.S. Shramm, E. Morton, H. Walmsley, C. Wright, Montgomery and Bagnall; deputy-chairman, Mr. E.J. Phelan; hon. Secretary, Mr. Ivan Culpan; hon treasurer, Mr. J.E. Knowling; delegate to New Zealand Rugby League, Mr. R. Doble; auditor, Mr. R.A. Spinley; hon solicitor, Mr. H.M. Rogerson; referees’ delegate on the management committee, Mr. W. Mincham; club delegates, Mr Jim Rukutai and J.W. Probert; hon physicians, Drs. R. Tracey Inglis, Mr. G. Pezaro, F.J. Gwynne and K.H. Holdgate; press steward, Mr. R. Doble; board of control, Messrs. Campbell, Rukutai, Doble, L. Binns, Probert, Mincham, D. Wilkie, Ellis, Knowling and Ivan Cuplan; trustees, Messrs. John Stormont, E.J. Phelan, and G. Grey Campbell.[5]

At a board of control meeting in April it was decided that unemployed patrons would be admitted to Carlaw Park with the same concession as the previous season provided they produced their levy book regularly and it was stamped by the Labour Department. At the same meeting Mt Albert United applied to have their colours changed from mauve to blue and gold. This was referred to the junior management committee.[6]

It was reported that in the latest English rule book there was a goal line drop out being taken when teams forced the ball in their own in goal area and that New Zealand would also adopt the rule.[2] It was decided to implement the rule at the start of the second round. After clarifying the interpretation of the law in England it was established that the attacking team needed to stand five yards from the goal-line when the defending side drops the ball out from between its posts.[7]

Continued dissatisfaction was felt around the policing of the play the ball which caused problems. And late tacking was also said to be spoiling play. The referee committee said at their 21 May meeting that they intended to take drastic action on this matter.[8] At the Auckland Rugby League Board of Control meeting on 23 May chairman Campbell drew attention to the practice of players charging into opponents and using their knees. He said it was a serious offence, not a tackle and not football at all. The referees association took up the matter and said that all senior clubs would be written to and told that such conduct would not be tolerated.[9] As a result of a large number of matches which were late kicking off due to teams arriving late or match officials arriving late or not at all the league pointed out "that a visiting team could be granted a 15-minute concession in starting and the length of spells could be reduced to 35 minutes each way by mutual agreement between the captains".[10]

At its weekly meeting the Board of Control banned metal sprigs after the Newton club's officials and players complained “strongly” against their use.[11]

It was decided that the championship would commence on 28 April and consist of three rounds. However the Auckland Rugby League would reserve the right to select the four leading teams to hasten the find for the champions if necessary.[12]

The league promoted the senior competition by taking the unusual approach of naming all the senior coaches and including boastful quotes from each of them in its newspaper advertisements. The advertisement went "What the Coaches say: Lar Seagar: Devonport will again be Champion and Champion of Champions. Scotty McClymont: Richmond will be hard. The Rooster will be a Champion this year. Duggie McGregor: Nothing can stop Newton winning. Pope Gregory: Marist O.B. will win from the start. The team is in great heart. Frank Delgrosso: Ponsonby will this year produce the finest League team for many a day. Ben Davidson: City Rovers will be the sensation of the season. A team of All Blacks".[13]

Newton, Richmond, and Ponsonby all sported new uniforms which were well received after their opening matches.[14]

A new stand was planned for Carlaw Park to be built prior to the “next winter season”. It would cost £3,000 and have “concrete foundations and built in wood”. Preliminary architectural plans were submitted by Mr Piper and Mr. Brooker. “The new stand while embracing the present stand, which would harmonise with the main design, will provide seating accommodation for from 2,500 to 3,000 people. It will incorporate the latest facilities for public and players. Teams will take the field from under the central part of the stand”.[15] The stands would also feature a large room for each senior club “fitted with lockers, and hot and cold showers would be a feature of the dressing rooms, which will be built under the stand. Conveniences for the general public will also be provided”. The present grandstand would be renovated and the new build would have “glass fronts and sides, to protect spectators from the wet weather... the work is to be commenced immediately, and it may be completed within two weeks of the opening of the 1934 season”.[16] Work started on the new grandstand on 9 March after the plans and specifications were "perused by the Auckland City Council, which proposed several alterations with a view to improvement of the building". The changes were accepted by the trustees of the Auckland Rugby League but it would mean in increase in the contract price to a little over £3,000. It was aimed to complete the contract in May. Mr. E. J. Phelan, a trustee and vice chairman of Auckland Rugby League announced that the successful tenderer was Mr. R.A. Cornish of Newmarket. The architects were Mr. L.S. Piper and Mr. L.E. Brooker who had submitted the initial plans.[17] By 15 March excavation works had been undertaken and were near completion. The board inspected them on 16 March.[18] Ponsonby donated £150 and it was hoped at the annual meeting that other clubs would also contribute £50 each towards the costs. On 21 April the league arranged practice matches at Carlaw Park with the main match being between Marist and Ponsonby with those teams reserve grade sides playing the curtain-raiser. A charge of sixpence admission would go towards the grandstand funds which was expected to be completed by the following week.[19] Ponsonby defeated Marist by 13–0. The stand ultimately cost £3,500 and as it neared completion the New Zealand Herald published a photograph of it.[20] In order to further help pay for the new stand the league sold 300 season tickets to the new stand which would entitle the purchaser to attend all matches under the control of the Auckland Rugby League this year. The tickets would cost £1 each.[21] A third unanimous offer of £100 was received from a supporter of the code which was gratefully accepted at the Board of Control meeting on 9 May. The new grandstand was to be opened on Saturday 12 May by Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe and the clubs.[22]

On 12 May the new grandstand was officially opened by Lord Bledisloe in front of 17,000 spectators which was a record for a club match.[23] Following the matches the six senior and six reserve teams "took up their respective club quarters in the new grandstand... and were delighted with the improved facilities. The Ponsonby Boys’ Band played at the park and the pavilion was thrown open for public inspection".[24] Lord Bledisloe had said when opening the new stand that "he had always been a firm believer in the advantages of football, both as a means of developing physique, and in forming character and a sense of discipline. Some 24 years ago on the area which was now Carlaw Park the Chinese, he understood, had cultivated vegetables; to-day the ground was in use for the cultivation of sport and of health and character, which flowed from sport when conducted fairly, honestly and in a spirit of unselfishness. Congratulating the League organisation on its enterprise Lord Bledisloe ventured the hope that the sport would continue and flourish, and be maintained in New Zealand for many years to come". He went on to say that the "erection of the new pavilion had provided useful work for about 60 men... and was built of good New Zealand rimu timber.[25] In spite of the new stand and facilities the league still received a letter from Ellerslie United complaining about the inadequate shower facilities at the ground.[10]

Lights were installed in the park later in the season and at the final ARL meeting of the year a vote of thanks was "accorded Mr F.E. McEwan, the Ponsonby Club treasurer, for his work in connection with the lighting facilities".[26]

Mr. G. Grey Campbell, chairman of the league visited Sydney to meet administrators of the game there. He returned to Auckland on 7 April. He said that there was a possibility that the Sydney University team would make a visit along with the Sydney premiership winners.[27] Campbell said that his visit had shown "him how seriously the management committees of the various clubs regarded training. They had more control over the players than did New Zealand. The object... was to get the teams on the ground in the best condition possible. They believed that the team "that gets in first" gave the others a handicap that took some getting over during the season, and no time and money were spared in preparation".

The district radio engineer, Mr. L.L. Macey stated that there was "no ban on the broadcasting of Rugby League football in Auckland", however the station 1ZB was going to be unable to broadcast matches. The reason being that its application for an extension of broadcasting hours had been turned down by 'Wellington' and as the football was played outside of their broadcast hours they would be unable to carry any coverage.[28] The decision was met by indignation from New Zealand Rugby League and it was decided to strongly protest and follow up with other action.[2] The protest entailed an immediate telegraph to the Postmaster General "against unfair discrimination at the cost of the many supporters of the game who paid for licenses as listeners...the executive also was requested to communicate with individual members of Parliament on the subject, and the incoming committee was urged to take further action, if necessary, as it was a matter of urgency to the code and to the general public". 1ZB had applied two months earlier and was ready to begin broadcasting from the opening weekend of matches however the decision not to allow it had occurred in the days prior to the season opening. Rugby Union was going to be broadcast out of the Broadcasting Boards own funds, and soccer was going to be broadcast through 1YA. Chairman of New Zealand Rugby League, Mr. Cyril Sneddon said "well, it looks as though there is at the moment a ban, or threatened ban, on Rugby League football – just another tilt at the code". There were many other accusations of "strings being pulled" made by delegates from around the regions.[29] It was decided by the Hon. Adam Hamilton, Postmaster-General to arrange for the broadcasting of Auckland League football match results. He advised a deputation that he would ascertain if the service could be fitted in with the programme of 1YA or 1YX at a lengthy meeting on the issue where many voices were heard.[30] Station 1ZB rearranged their Saturday programme so that rugby league broadcasts could be done. They cut out a portion of their Saturday morning programme to make room for the afternoon broadcast of the league. This meant that they did not need to apply to an extension of their hours. The decision was met very favourably by league chairman Campbell who said "we are very pleased with the result...listeners in the country districts especially will appreciate the action of 1ZB in meeting that has become a widespread demand for the broadcasting of League matches from Carlaw Park".[31]

Mr. T. Davis was elected a life member of the Auckland Rugby League after he had retired. He had served as a delegate for five years, and for eight years he was the secretary of the junior management committee.[32] At the 30 May meeting, Mr. F.D. Ellis was made a life member, he had been on the board and served as treasurer for 14 years. He was resigning due to ill health and moving to Australia.[33]

The Phelan Shield (which is still competed for today) was first awarded in 1934. It was a "handsome carved shield" presented to Auckland Rugby League by Edward John Phelan (known commonly as Ted Phelan), one of the trustees of rugby league in Auckland. The shield was played for by the 4 losing teams from the first round of the Roope Rooster and was won by Newton who defeated Ponsonby in the final by 18 points to 10.[34]

On 20 October, at the Charity Day at Carlaw Park, a "beautiful silver cup" was handed over by Mr. J Smith on behalf of Mr. R.P. Sharman. He was the merchandise manager of George Court and Sons Ltd and was being transferred to London, England. He wished to leave "a happy recollection of his association with league football" and wished that the trophy should be awarded in "a competition worthy of its value".[35] The trophy is still played for today in lower senior grades.

On 12 November Arthur Carlaw died in Christchurch aged 51. He was a stonemason by trade and the nephew of James Carlaw, who Carlaw Park was named after. Arthur Carlaw was one of the pioneers of the rugby league game in New Zealand and made 20 appearances for Auckland from 1909 to 1913, and 17 matches for New Zealand over the same years. He also played 25 times for Ponsonby United from 1908 to 1913. Carlaw moved to Christchurch in the mid 1920s where he coached and refereed for several seasons. He had been in poor health for "many years past, owing to having been gassed while in France. He [was] survived by his widow and two young children".[36]