ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1822, 7 August 1913, Page 8

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

STRONG PROTEST. SELECTION OF TEAM FOR U.S.A. NO LOCAL SELECTOR. MEMBERS SPEAK OUT WARMLY. "A letter should be sent to the New Zealand Rugby Union asking for their reasons for not appointing a Wellington representative to t'he New Zealand Selection. Committee, which, was sot up to cflioose tlio team to tour California." The above was moved hy.Mr. _E. Littlo at last night's meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union, and there then ensued a disciipsion, during which considerable dissatisfaction was expressed. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Littlo said that some explanation by Mr. N. Galbraith (chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union) was a incro quibble. For many years 'the Wellington Union had been absolutely t'he most loyal union in the country to the New , Zealand Union,. and this was tho way the New Zealand Union showed its gratitude. Mr. 1). Weir: Quite right! itr. Little: Whenever there has been a critical situation they have supported the New Zealand Union hand in glove. There would seem to be sorno difference be'tween our sole selector (Mr. V. R. MeredithJ and 'the chainnau of the' New Zealand Union, but I submit that Mr. Meredith is not the only gentleman in Wellington capable of selecting a 'team. And if they didn't like him, why didn't they ask us to appoint someone el«e? An injustice had been done Wellington players that would not have occurred had Wellington been represented on the Selection Committee. Sad Thing for Morale. Mr. Dawson, seconded the_ motion. He said that tho Wellington Union, .like its Mile selector, had been setting a rather higher standard than others had. Respecting the C-alifornian team, a good deal could be said; but'there again the Wellington selector had sot a highei standard than others, and it looked as ii thoso who nominated the most got most into the touring team. "It is a verj <?ad thing for the morale of the game, he continued, "if a union which has been lpyal and sets a high standard should 1)( punished because, because Mr. W. Perry: Because' it is con< scientious. Mr. Dawson: Because it is conscientious Swiftly Answerod. ■ Mr. Wilson: Tho Nc.v Zealand Unioi appointed (in their opinion) the best mci to pick the teani, and I -think tho matte: resits there. I don't think we shouli stir up any provincial jealousy becausi Wellington did not ' get & selector. Mr. Little: Wo arc entitled to a repre sentative. Mr. Wilson: Thalt is what I object to It is ridiculous to say that we shouli have a mail on the Selection Committee. . .Mr. Weir: I say the position demand an. explanation. At the present momen therij is a perfect understanding betweei this union and the - players. The play ..ers realise that We are out to look afte; their interests. -' In :this case, without ! doubt, our players have been called upoi to suffer an injustice. That being so, ii is. our . duty, on their behalf, to demanc some explanation from tho New Zealanc Union as to tho treatment this union ha; received. This is.the. first time in tin history of' big football that Wellington , lias not had a selector. It is not because we have not had a good team—our records show that. Last year wo were on top, bar Auckland. This year wo start off by beating Taranaki, and go within a point of Auckland. . . ; It boils' down to this: A difference of opinion between the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Wellington selector. "Had the selector been anyone but Mr. V. R. Meredith, tho position would have been different. Is it fair that, because they can't see eye to eye, footbajlers should suffer? Mr. 'Wilson: Who says so? Mr. Weir: You have had your say. I am giving my opinion/ in syiite of anv interjections you may make. I can sjieak of Mr. Galbraith, because he rushed into the newspapers. . . . He.makes one or two points, but, as Mr. Littlo says, they are absolute ciuibbles. , Mr. Meredith went out of his way to give tho players a fair dcil by not nominating any but those ho conscientiously thought fit to go.

The Otago Siyle, Mr. Wilson: And the others did not? Mr. Weir: You ore still talking, Mr. Wilson. ' ' Mr. Wilson: Well, yon arc suggesting it all the. time. Mr. Weir: Yon are only prolonging tho agonj from your point ,of view. Otago nominated fifteen men. Sir. G. Howe: Seventeen. Mr. Weir: Mr. Ga.lbrn.ith said that Hie men should have been nominated earlier. . . . Ho probably thinks ho knows something about tho game. Those who know him best will probably tell you how much ho knows in a few minutes. Mr. G. Howe: It hurts me very much to have to ogree with Mr Weir— (laughter)— but I shall have to do so on this occasion. I shall have to support the motion. Wo appointed Mr. Meredith our selector for'the North Island team, and if lie was good enough for that he was good enough to be a New Zealand selector. Ho has been a New Zealand seleotor before, and I think he is good enough again. It is our duty to stand bv Mr. Meredith. 'Mr. W. Perry: I am going to support tlio motion. The mistake was in appointing four (selectors—thero should have bseii five or three, preferably five, because then the five most important unions would have had representation. i In spito of the record of the Wellington team m the last four seasons, particularly tho last year, I am afraid we have not got proper representation in this team. Apart from that, we should have had a seleotor. Wo Have never been passed over before, and we are one of the most important unions in the country. . Mr Buck supported r.hc motion, and contended that there should have been five selectors. Mr. E. 0. Hales (chairman): I am going to support iti, and for this reason: The Wellington selector sees more football than the selector for any -other province ill New Zealand.. Taranaki lins a man capable of filling any position, but lie doesn't sco the matches. The motion was carried, with Mr. Wilson the only dissentient.