ALL-BLACK TEAM SELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2198, 10 July 1914, Page 8

ALL-BLACK TEAM SELECTIONS

WHY NUNN WAS DROPPED

MEDICALLY UNFIT FOR DRILL

The ''exclusion of thePetone Football Club's half, H. Nunn, from the AllBlack team -which, lett for Australia last week, was the basis of an interesting, discussion which took place at last evening's meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand llugby Union. Mr. G.-H. D'ixon presided, and Messrs. E. Wyjie, A. Laurenson, . J. Laughton, and W. Perry were also present. , - • ■ ..

The'secretary (Mr. Hollis) read a letter received from the Petone Club, which stated that the club was sending a deputation to the union/for. the purposo of ascertaining the reason why Nunn had been excluded, from the New Zealand team. .

The question as to whether "this deputation should be received'was then debated, objection being offered to.-the creation of a precedent, it being contended tliat the • matter should have come up through tho Wellington Union. Ultimately the deputation was received, and were inforined.by the chairman that their procedure was entirely improper. The committee, lie said, was not in a position to give- information. The proper course for the delegates would huvo been to have sought the information from the Wellington Union. .-','■ ~ Mr. Price said that they had been delegated by the Petone Club to ask the New Zealand Rugby Union, why Nunn'had been turned down .at the eleventh'.hour: ■■'Hβ understood that Nnnu was the twenty-third, man on the selector's list, and that he would be selected to fill the first vacancy. The fact that he'hadbeen excluded from the team was not only a .etigma on Nunn, but also on the club. ■ "W.e want you to enlighten usj" said the speaker, "by giving us !a reason why Nunn.wasturned down.' , ■ ' . ;

111-. Laugh'ton: Where did jou get your information : that lie was. turned down?. ■'■ ■ ;: : ■•■■.■•-'.■ .

■Mr. Price: I suppose you are- aware that Nuan was selected as first emer-: gency in the*half-backs?' Mr. J!- H. Lynskey congratulated Nunn ■in tho Petone Club's, shed, when it was> announced that Green could not go. . It was.understood that'-Nunn was selected to fill the vacancy. ■ . ' "' '.'; The chairman: There was no official statement. made-Hhat he. was selected. Mr. Perry: lam not prepared to say ..that hewas notiselected. If .the selec'tors had.originally picked Nuiin as the 1 first emergency half-backi : 1,, did not know.' '.'..'" - '..' . . ',< ..'.--

Mr. -Welch-spoke on.similar lines, and laid, stress on the point that Mr.: Lyn 7 skey congratulated Nunn> when advice was"received-,that Green could not.go. -.After further; discussion the deputation withdrew, and the union went into, committee to discuss whether or not they would answer. '\ .•• After a. few-minutes'' deliberation the deputation was invited back into the room, and the chairman asked the following question:— ■"■':: .- ■..-'.'. : • "Would you. -consider that a person medically certified' as unfit for military service ; physically fit ito represent; New Zealand as a, footballer ?' '. . v - ■

; Mr. Hardham: 'It • dopends entirely when the certificate was issued, and for what period. .V. 3 ''-' , ';' : '' : . v,' ;' ■ Mr. Wylie:; A-certificate'issued for the,current year! .- !: '.;v : , ■■■.■■'■■• Mr. Hardhanv,.then .admitted, that-a man' ''medically".certified 'as . unfit '■■ for military service would .be -physically un" fit to represent New-Zealand a's a foot bailer.' ■'■'■.•'' ;■ .:■ :'v.-.r",'; .■ :'-..,'

;! The; chairman then; 'read' the ■ following motion,, which had : been passed in committee, and- which gave the reason for. Nurui's exclusion:—\ . ■■■'■:■:':■.

■."That..'tlie. deputation be informed that information. ■ was ' received .that Green was .not available shortly. before tho'team was to.depart. -The committee had reliable information that Nunu was, medically certified as .unfit for- military _ duties, and therefore could not be considered as physically . fit to. represent ;New Zealand, without, a medical examination; and time would not permit of this." :. .'.; .' :i '•'-. ~'.'■ ■- 1

, Mr.' Hardham said that the man who replaced Nunn wa-s also medically unfit. To this remark members of the committee expressed utter Surprise, and stated that, if it had been known at the time the. man would not; have, been allowed to pfo.-'..: .. '>.■'■ -. Mr- Welch said' that' ho know' "that Nunn was unfit, and-whcii Roberts was selected, and Aie also was medically unfit, the speaker considered, that there must have been some other reason'. ... The'chairman assured the' deputation that there was absolutely no other reason, and that: it was not' a question of character.•" ■ ,'i: ;,' ; : . >, .

Tlie membersrof the deputation expressed: themsolves as being very much' enlightened;and quite satisfied with the answer.■ They then withdrew. -".