A RARE SCRUMMAGE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 298, 5 September 1918, Page 6

A RARE SCRUMMAGE

THE RUGBY CRISIS

DOMINION CONTROL MEETS

CONSTITUTION TO BE UPHELD

Tho .Rugby crisis is still a very live topic in Wellington, and, by this time, probably throughout New Zealand. The Management Uommitteo of the New Zealand Union was called together last night, and it determined to stand by "tho constitution as laid down in the rule book." There were present:— Mr. U. H. Dixon (in the chair), A. Wylie, G. Fache, li. M. Marris, G. Howe, A. Laurensou, and Dr. M'Evedy. The chairman said that he had called tho meeting in consequence of tho reported decision of the Wellington Union to i>lay its match against Auckland 011 Saturday under tho amended rule. Certain statements mado at the Wellington Union meeting might not quite correctly express the attitude of the New Zealand Union, and it had appeared to him that the committee should got together for the purpose of considering the question generally, expressing their views on the matter at issue and arriving at some decision. There had been a very free expression of opinion from another quarter, and the New Zealand Union might wish to say something for the information of the"players and the public. Mr. i'ache: Has Auckland applied for permission ? The chairman said that so far as he knew they had not. Mr. Wylie: One point that occurs to me is that we were all led to believe, when we received the application from the Wellington Union,, that they had rescinded the resolution to play under the amended rules. As a matter of fact they decided last night that they had not rescinded' tho resolution. Therefore, their application to us was nothing but a sham. Thoy oven altered their minutes to show that. Dr. M'Evedy said that when Mr. Weir attended their last meeting he advised them as a man to schoolboys to do as the Wellington Union told them, because the Wellington Union intended to go on with the matter. "We .ire put here by the public, and must keep their trust—that is, keep the constitution. If an improvement is to be brought about it must be by a constitutional method. Mr. Howe: Did you point that out to them ?

Dr. M'Evedv: Wo invited them to a conference with us. Mr. Howe: The whole, lot? Dr. M'Evedy: Yes, and only two of them came, Sir. Kitto and Mr. Weir. It seems to me that the position has not been put to the Wellington Union by those who met us as well as it migut have been. We are to reform, but there is a constitutional way of getting it. It is unfair and unpatriotic to force this at a time when the English Union has no_ opportunity of defending itself. Mr. Weir has been asked what is the urgent necessity to play this amended game at the present time, and he can give us no good reason. To-day I had numerous oommunications from people who subscribed to the Park- Fund last year ,(to get the Wellington Union out of tho mud), saj'ing that they subscribed for Rugby and would not have anything to do with anything else.' Ho had been spoken to by various people, and had been in conversation with the heads of Wellington College and St. Patrick's College, both of whom were against the proposed cfiange. It hud been stated that 1 a vote of the Wellington players who visited Auckland had been taken, and that 16 out of 18 had voted for the amended game. Ho said that no vote whatever had been taken, "lie majority of the players were not in favour of the change. The statements of the Wellington Union were not correct, and the New Zealand Union had been badly treated by tho chairman of tho Wellington Union, notwithstanding that no one helped 'Wellington more than the members of tho New Zealand Union when Wellington was in trouble. Mr. Marris: I hardly think that Dr. M'Evedy's statement about the team wavering is correct. They aro wavering, but only about disqualification ; otherwise, if it were left to them, they would to « man play that match on Saturday. ' Mr. Howe: Who made the statement about a vote of the team? Dr. M'Evedy: Mr. Weir did, and never a vote was taken. They aro entirely misleading the public. Tlio chairman: Assuming that a vote

was taken what was the object of it? Mr. Howe: Do 1 understand that if Auckland plays these rules in club games this union takes no action, but when it comes to interprovincial games the union does take action Members: That (the latter part) has not been decided yot. The eliairman said thero was ft recognised understanding to allow sonio latitude in cup games. Mr. Howe: l'ou have known for two or three years that these rules were being played in Auckland, and you considered you should action. The chairman: That is not necessarily 60' Mr. Howe: You saw that watch in Auckland six months ago when these rules were played? The chairman: Yes. Mr. Howe: And you did nothing. Mr. Howe blamed 1 the Now Zealand Union for a great deal of the trouble. Trouble would have been avoided if the higher body had acted earlier—had, for instance, taken sonic action before the AYellington team went to Auckland. The chairman: We were not notified of the intention to play amended rules on that occasion. Mr. llowo: it was published in the newspapers. The chairman said that ho had mentioned the matter to Mr. Weir, chairman of the Wellington Union. Mr. Howe: That is not to say that the Wellington Union knew. ll ! tho Wellington Union, as a body thought they were transgressing tho rules, they would not have done so. Dr. M'Uvedy: Why do they_ persist with it? Mr. Howe: For the simple reason that if you look up tho records you will see that To Ante and others played these rules. South Auckland played a curtain-raiser to the Wellington match, and they had no kicking into touc.li and ail sorts o l i things. Mr. Marris: And Thames played it! A member: We have not been notified. Mr. Howe: Probably you never will be. You don't seem to look for it.

Mr. Wylie said that Mr. "Weir bad refused to take the Wellington Union into'his confidence when asked for information about the Park. It had been made perfectly plain that the deed of trust provided ,that the Wellington Union sliould have the use of the Park only so long as they played the gamo according to the English rules. In spite of that Mr. Weir had said to the New Zealand Union: "Whatever you do wo aro going to play the new rules." The military approved Rugby, bccauso it provided a tost of nerve, etc. Tho amendments proposed to do away with the charge against a freekick. It often needed nerve to bo accurate with a kick when ono knew that a 'cliargo' was sure to bo made. The amendment would mlw the gamo too simple altogether. The American delegates who saw all the games said that their game had too much of the dovil, the Victorian not enough, and llu tr by just enough. Hut can the New Zealand Union officially agree to sanction a breaking of its constitution? I say we cannot, and that ,wo must act

and act at oiico to uphold our constitution." Mr. Harris: I think it is an awful pity that this matter was taken up tielorc the annual, meeting.

The chairman: There has been a certain amount of latitude (in this maLter of amended rules) in regard to cup matches, but no change has ever been countenanced in interprovincial matches. ... It had been said that Saturday's match should bo played as an experiment, but if what Mr. AYeir said was correct, the experiment hud already been inado. Mr. Fache said that 110 threats about the l J ark had boon made at the last ineoting of the union. The question of the Park was regarded as a side issue altogether. The New Zealand Union has taken the attitude that it was concerned with the question of upholding the trust placet! in it—the constitution. Then there were the referees. Were they going to contaminate them by inducing them to depart from the trust they held to see that the rules of ltugby were abided by. As far as threats went they came from someone, who, even if he did not represent the 'Wellington I Union, was chairman of it. The, New Zealand Union was told that whatever it did tho Wellington Union waii going to play the amended rules. A certain man had said that a manager of a team which went to Canterbury eamo back with a statement that Canterbury iJayers were ready to play professional football, and they wanted'money for the players. Mr. Howe: Did Mr. Weir say that? Mr. Fache: Yes,. And it was done with the object of coercing this union. As regards tho five proposed new rules, Mr. Fachs said that three needed no permission whatever. The advantage rule 011 the line-out, the knockon, and the referee putting tho ball into tho scrum. Also, there was nothing to prevent a team doing without a wing-forward. Mr. Howe: The English unions never recognised him. Mr. Fache: I beliave there are teams in this country which never recognised him.

Mr. Mowo: Otago never did. Mr. Fache said there was something more underlying this than appeared on tho surface. Mr. Marris: I don't think you are justified in saying that. _ _ Mr. Fache: I have justification for it. Mr. Marris: Well, the union would bo glad to hear it. Mr. Fache said ho would only refer to history, when the Northern Union broke away it was done something in the same way. Now they had a game which was purely a spectacle for large crowds, and as much as a thousand pounds had been paid for a player. Did we want that here? Rugby was u line educator, and New Zealand did not want a spectacle iu which the young men would not take part. At the last meeting of the New Zealand- Union one of these proposed amendments was voted ou ':> a " now the IN'ew Zealand Union ■ Committee was asked to countenance such a change. Had they not a mandate ringing in their ears, which they were bound to heed? Had tho Wellington Union a mandato from the players? He thought there were clubs in the city which would not stand for a moment any tinkering with tho rulos. "Tho time lias como when this union has got to assert itself. This matter it. being discussed not only in Wellington, but ill every circle. . . . We have to. take up tho attitude that whilo v.'e subscribe to the English rules the players hero must play them. Then there is tho other sido of the thing—a large proportion of our active men are out of the country otherwise engaged. I don't want to be sentimental, but they say 'keep the home fires burning.' Why not 'keep them burning' in this matter till tho manhood of tho country returns?"

Mr.. Howe: How did Mr. Weir get to the meeting here? Members: lie asked if he cmild attend. Mr. Howe: You cannot bhuno tho Wellington Union for that. 1 can assure you that the Wellington Union is as anxious to benefit ilugby as this body is. It was resolved: That this committee reaffirms its determination to uphold the constitution as laid down in the rule book, tor which purpose it was elected at the last meeting.

It was reported yesterday that about eleven of the seventeen chosen to practice for Saturday's match had decided not to pla.y and risk disqualification. PONEKE CLUB'S ATTITUDE. The following resolutions were passed last evening at a meeting of the committee of tlio Poneke Football Club:— (t) ''That the committee consider the action of the management committee of tho Wellington ltugby Union in deciding to play the game with Auckland under modified rules unconstitutional, and against tho best interests of the game, and requesting the AV.K.O. Committee to call a general meeting of delegates to consider tho position; (2) .That failing such meeting being called the club urges its members not to take part in the match unless the sanction of tho Now Zealand lvugby Union be obtained."

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON. The meeting between the Auckland add Wellington representatives is set down for the Athletic Park at 3.-15 oil Saturday. The Aucklandcrs arrive by midday express on Friday, and an official letter received and read at Tuesday's meeting of the W.R.F.U. states the teqm is a more powerful one than tliat defeated by Wellington by 18-1-1 at Auckland on August 17. His JCxcellency the Qoybrnor-General, members of Cabinet,, His Worship the Mayor, the G.O.C. N.Z. Military Forces and Staff, and the Camp Commandants have been specially invited to witness the 'match. A special train will leave Trentham at 12.55 p.m. on Saturday to enable all those who have been granted leave to witness the' match if they so desiro. Two special curtain-raisers will be provided in the form of interprovincial, liockey matches (ladies)— Poverty Bay v. Manawatu and Canterbury and Wellington. The Wellington representatives and emergencies are requested by advertisement" to attend at Poneke gymnasium to-niglit at 7.30. HIGH SCHOOL TOURNEY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargll!, September 4. The filial of the High School Rugby tourney was played in perfect weather, Southland beating Timaru by 13 points (three tries, two converted) to 3 points, a penalty goal. The game between I Christclnirch and Otago was won by the former by 20 points (six tries, ono converted) to 3 points (an unconverted try). PRIMARY TOURNAMENT. By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Mastertan, September 4. In the final of the primary schools' tourney, Manawatu doleatcd Wanganui by o points to nil, thus winning tlio tournament. Wellington and Wairarapa played a drawn game, neither side scoring.