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Victoria Disappointing I
| Against South Australia 'I
FOOTBALL AND RAILWAYS
Some Interesting Figures j
"Football Is not only a sport, but
In many ways Is a very big business,
not only to the Railways Department,
hut to locnl traders and others." writes
Sir Reg. Hunt, secretary of the Haw-
thorn Club and chairman of the
Dengue's permit nnd umplro com
mittee.
Mr Hunt is In the Itnllwnys Depart
ment, being one of the staff of tho
outdoor superintendent's olllce, nnd
lias contributed an article In the cur-
ront number of tho Hallways Maga
zine showing how great a volunio of
business football has provided for the
roll ways. In tills ho states: —
"Tho season oxtends, practically,
over live months, and tho following
Information In regard to country
irattlc makes Interesting reading and
gives ona an Idea of tho magnitudo
uf the business.
"In 1D25 no fewor than 9S0 specials
were rim, carrying 1C.1.3S1 passengers,
the total revenue being 140,735. On
one day — August 29 — 53 specials woro
scheduled.
"Tho Wlmmorn Football Denguo ts
one of the most powerful and popular
In the country, and for Its matches
1 7.064 passengers were carried on the
special trains, with u rovonuc of £0106.
"TJie matches of tho Ucclong foot-
bnll clubs, both at Ucclong' nnd Mel
bourne, bring In considerable railway
revenue, nnd last soasun, on spoclals
run botweon tlicso cities, over 43,000
passengers were carried, llio revenue
being £11,000.
"Tho Victorian Football I.caguc ap
points from 60 to 80 umpires each
week for country leagues and associa
tions. when the senson Is In full swing.
The fees paid to these officials amount
to more than £5000, about £1250 of
which goos In railway fares — another
source of revenue."
Notwithstanding tho rutnor that
Cahlll would not play for Footscray
unless a largo sum were lodged to his
credit aa a guarantee, I have It on
good authority that he will be socn
shortly In that club's colors.
Martin Ludecke, tho European
wrestling champion, visited the train
ing rooms of tho Melbourno team yes
terday evening. Ho was greatly In
terested In tho training methods and
described those followed by athletes
on the other side of tho world, nnd
said that they paid close attention to
physical culture. Ludecke invited the
team to his work-out In the Y.M.C.A.
rooms botweon 6 and 6 o'clock this
evening.
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