PRESUMPTUOUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 45, 4 August 1939, Page 5

PRESUMPTUOUS

RUGBY RAP ROTORUA SUB.UNION CHIDED ALLEGED INTERFERENCE WITH WHAKATANE AFFAIRS "The action of the Rotortia SubUnion in discussing matters concerning the Whakatane Sub-Union without reference to Whakatane is most extraordinary" said Mr W. S. Henderson, president of the Whakatane Sub-Union when asked last night to comment on a report appearing in the Rotorua morning paper referring to the Waikite Club's visit to Ruatoki. This stated that the Rev Harawcra, reporting 011 the visit, soid that a serious discussion on the subject of football in Ruatoki had taken place between leaders of the Ruatoki people and the visitors and the sug. gestion had been brought forward that the only hope for Rugby in Rua toki lay in the formation, of a separate sub-union, embracing Ruatoki, Waimana and Taneatua. It was stated that Opotiki favoured the suggestion and would probably support it if Rotorua moved in the matter. There would probably be four senior teams and a number of juniors. ''We are quite capable of looking after our own affairs and have not nsked for any assistance from them, nor do we want it" said Mr Henderson. "They should concentrate their efforts on combating the rival code in their own territory without intruding on, our affairs. "We went to the Ruatoki people and had a pleasant meeting and threw open wide the door for them to comeback to Rugby. ''The fact that Ruatoki is playing League has not affected our standard of play or our gate receipts'" he added. "I think it is presumptuous of the Rotorua Sub-Union to discuss our affairs and, as I have previously stated, they could well exercisej their efforts in combating the rival code at home'' said INIr Henderson. "I make this statement with the full approval of my executive ' Referring to a statement that permission was being sought by Rotorua sub-union from headquarters in Wellington to play a curtain raiser to the Fijian-Maori game at Rotorua between Waikite and Ruatoki Mr Henderson said no application "from Ruatoki had been made to the Whakatane Sub-Union, and in any case it was a matter for the Bay of Plenty union.