OFFENDER’S VERSION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 9, 9 August 1946, Page 5

OFFENDER’S VERSION

SEQUEL TO RUGBY INCIDENT EXPLANATION TO UNION As a courtesy measure the Whakatane Rugby Union extended permission to Mr Steve Hotene, one of the offenders who were suspended for life as a result of the unseemly incident on the local football field recently, to address its meeting last Wednesday evening in order to give his side of the story. Mr Hotene declared that( from the purport of the official report he had been shouldered with the full responsibility for manhandling and kicking the referee and knocking his glasses off. This was absolutely false and he was there to tell -the truth of the matter. When the final whistle was blown his attention had been first attracted to the referee by the crowd milling round him. He saw someone kick the referee and another spectator had grabbed his glasses and flung them on the ground. He had spoken loudly to the persons who were doing this and had the Pakehas present understood Maori, they would have realised that he was protecting the referee and not insulting him. He knew that Mr Darvill mistook him for one of those intent on harming him. There was a regular melee, but he had only endeavoured to protect him and prevent those in the immediate vicinity from doing him an injury. He deeply regretted the whole affair as he was holding important positions in both Hockey and Basketball and he had been an enthusiast for Rugby for many years. He felt therefore that the verdict of the Union was altogether too drastic, particularly in view of the fact that they had never heard his version. He was sure that the sentence imposed was decided on the spur of the moment in view of only having heard the referee’s story. He regretted Mr Darvill’s absence from the meeting as he would liked him to have heard what he had to say. He did not consider the Union’s change of front due to weakness, but rather to having found out the true facts. There was no weakness in that respect. He was prepared to tender his resignation from the Unon but he would welcome the reconsideration of the very heavy penalty of life suspension imposed upon him. “I can only say that the decision was made by the Union following a lot of careful consideration,” said the chairman. “Nobody was bulldozed into anything and I believe your plea this evening to be a genuine one tonight.” Mr J. Lawson: What has the Union done about Poroporo’s offer to produce the actual men who committed the offences, of which Mr Hotene is accused? The chairman said that it had been substantially proved that Mr Hotene laid hands on the referee. Mr P. Anderson observed that his only regret was Mr Hotene’s walking out of the room when the complaint was first considered. Had he given his explanation then he was sure the decision would not have been so severe.

The chairman said that though they were all interested to hear Mr Hotene’s explanation the matter was now one for the New Zealand Rugby Union to which body it had been referred.