GAMES TO BE AT WHAKATANE AND TANEATUA ONLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 77, 20 April 1949, Page 5

GAMES TO BE AT WHAKATANE AND TANEATUA ONLY

Opinions, many and varied, and some sharp statements were aired over the question of centralising Rugby at Whakatane and Taneatua. As was only natural, Waimana opposed the suggestion while all other clubs spoke in favour of it. At one stage Waimana were accused ,of refusing to play matches at Whakatane after they had been defeated on their own ground. To commence the discussion Mr Semmens asked the clubs for their opinions. Wairaka, Paroa and Poroporo indicated that they were all in favour of games being played at Taneatua and Whakatane.

Centralisation Necessary The question had been discussed very fully by United and the club had decided it had no option but to agree to centralising matches, said Mr S. Carter. The Union was committed to a ground at Whakatane and it was only the gates at Whakatane that would develop that ground. He was sorry for the outside clubs, but that was the feeling of United members.

Mr F. Gardner said Taneatua supported centralising at Whakatane and Taneatua. Although it would be hard on Waimana, his club coul * see no other way out. Why Not Waimana?

Waimana was definitely against centralising matches, Mr J. Cain declared. He wanted to know why games were to be kept to Whakatane and Taneatua when Waimana had a better field than either place. If it must be two centres, why not Whakatane and Waimana? All the teams had been considered by Wairaka, Mr C. Hollis told the Waimana delegates. ,Jt was thought that having a field at Taneatua would entail about the same amount of travelling for each team. “Why not centralise on Whakatane?” Mr C. Pile (Paroa) wanted to know. “It is the finance. collected at Whakatane that keeps the Union going,” he asserted. I Almost Stagnate Pointing out that the Union was almost at a point of stagnation, the secretary-treasurer, Mr D. O. Stewart, said it was only just reaching the stage where it was. getting good grounds to whiph it could invite outside teams. Mr Stewart said that Whakatane was the only source of revenue and that was the reason for wanting to keep it in the town. League was fairly strong at Taneatua and that was the Union’s reason in wanting to keep Rugby in that centre. T am in favour of centralisation,” Mr Stewart concluded, “and if it is adopted I hope that Waimana will remain in the competition.” League was catching a hold at Waimana too, Mr Cain told the meeting. Rugby was having a fight to keep out, and if Whakatane clubs shut the door it would let the rival code in.

He enquired if football was stopped at Waimana would there be any compensation'' to Waimana by the Union foy the loss of their ground l - There was no answer.

Mr Cain then asked if centralisation were adopted would Waimana have' to travel to Whakatane one week and Taneatua the next? Mr Semmens: That would be the case.

Mr Cain: Well I doii’t think its fair. Waimana is getting the heavy end of the stick, expecting them to have to travel 24 miles each week to play football. > Would Waimana Stay? Would Waimana stay in the competition throughout the season? Mr S. Merito, Wairaka, asked the Waimana delegates. Last year, he alleged, Paroa had played Waimana on their home ground and after losing the' match Waimana had refused to travel back to play Paroa later. Objecting to Mr Merito’s assertion, the Waimana delegates said that for every match Waimana had played at home in the past they had played two away. Mr Potter asked the secretary if that wasn’t so. Mr Stewart replied that on two | occasions last year United-had had {-to travel-to Waimana, to play or els<?

the games would have been defaulted. Waimana had compensated them for travelling once. Travelling Compensation The question of possible compensation to Waimana for travelling was raised but there were some objections, the reason being that if one club were to be compensated delegates wanted to know why not all clubs? Mr Semmens then suggested that subsidising for travelling be left to the executive meeting tonight. Following this it was moved by Mr K. Hollis and 'seconded by * Mr Murphy that ail Rugby matches be played at Taneatua and. Whakatane. It was carried with Waimana voting against, the motion. '