A RUGBY TANGLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 280, 22 August 1919, Page 9

A RUGBY TANGLE

THE POSITION OF AUCKLAND MOTION TO SUSPEND LOST CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE RESIGNS A proposition put to the Management Committee of the New: Zealand ltugby Union last night that the 'Auckland llugby Union should, be suspended was lost by four. votes to three, and as a consequonce the chairman, Mr. B. A. llarris, resigned -from the committee. The meeting was held for the purpose of considering a reply lrom the'A».ekiund Union to the instruction issued by the Management Committee that, 1 , pending the general meeting of .delegates, on September 19, no amended rules were to bo played in Rugby football matches. In addition to the chairman, there were present at the meoting Messrs. .6. A. Slade, 3. T. Piki, G. Howe, AV. W. Cook, Captain liitcliie Crawford, and Captain T. 11. Jonea. , -

The chairman read to the meeting a telegram received that day from the Auckland Union announcing .its determination to adhere to the code of ruled kid down by the New Zealand Union. He said ho felt very strongly on the matter ■ as, in Ilia "opinion, the • Auckland Union was only making a virtue of necessity. No more cup matches were to bo played in Auckland this season, and the Auckland Union could only play representative matches with unions who would not play any otlier than the old rules. He had no personal feeling in the'mat-, tor, but he resentod the treatment which had been accorded the Management Committee of tho New Zealand Union by the Management Committee of the Auckland Union. The ■ Auckland Union had previously stated that it was going to play amended rules, then it said twice that it had rescinded the motion to that effect, and afterwards it tried to get out of that position on a legal point. It seemed as if Auckland was doing exactly as it wished. If that were so, then there was no necessity for ,the New Zealand Union. He thought something Should be done. All through the season the Auckland Union had been dodging. It had played modified rules for cup matches, and after the championship had been decided and there was no further ute for amendments it turned round and intimated that it would J? adhere to the instructions that had been issued by tho New, Zealand Union. Captain Jones said that if it had been tho intention to suspend the Auckland Union, then that action should have been taken long ago. -The committee had sought to avoid having to suspend Auckland until the matter had been considered by the general meeting ol dele-

gates. "We Have Been Sat On." i Mr. Howe; I think we have been sat on, but I don't think we ought to take any drastic action within three waeks of-the meeting of delegates. Mr. Marris: "We are'here to control football in New Zealand, and' if wo allow a union to ride 1 over us roughshod'then -We should not be -here at all." The question of suspension had been considered earlier, and every chance Tras given, to Auckland, to fftll into lino 80 os to avoid friction. Twice the Auckland Union had agreed to do so, but if a decision had not been forced from Auokland tho New Zealand Union would not have known anything now. Mr. Piki: ■ There is: no question that the Auckland Union have .been out. of bounds altogether. They have hoodwinked us all along. ■ ' Mr; Slade moved that the Auckland Union be Suspended under Rule 37; The general meeting of delegates could then fix'things up. ~ , . Captain Crawford: I think Auckland should be given a chance to play the old rules. . Mr'. Mnrris: What is the good?. Mr. Howe said the position was exceptional. Had the letter from the English Union arrived in time, probably tb, amended rules would never.have been played.' He was . against drastic action until the question had been considered by the delegates. ■ -Mr. Marris thought that -.would be a sign of weakness. He did not-think they should postpone action -until the meeting in September. The Auckland Union had had three.or four opportunities of coming- into line, but it had broken its word twice. Captain Jones said that had it not been for the fact that a special meeting of delegates was .called for September 19, the Management Committee would have suspended Auckland long ago. The Auckland Union hfld now indicated that it was going to fall into line. The chairman replied that Auckland .had said that before. •' , Captain Jones: What'will ba the position of this Management Committee. if tho general meeting of delegates decides upon secession from the English Union? Mr. Marris: If such a decision were reached I would not want to remain in office, and I don't think any of the others would, either. There is no chance of secession. ' There being no other seconder. Air. Marris seconded Mr. Slade's motion, pro forma. ■Mr. Cook'said it was rather late to suspend Auckland now. "We have given them every opportunity of climbing down," he remarked, "and they have climbed down." . Mr. Marris: They have climbed down twice. . ~ .11. Mr.-Cook: Why did you give them that opportunity?- , Captoin .Tones: If after cljinbnw down we suspend them now, we will make ourselves ridiculous, particularly, after our attitude right through the piece.Mr. MnrrisWo would make ourselves look ridiculous if we did not suspend them after their attitude. In view of the telegram that hail been received that day from Auckland, Captain Crawford thought it would be mom politic not to jniposo woro ptmisliment on Auckland at tho present moment. Jf anything drn-stic were done at the present juncture it would alienate the sympathy of footballers throughout New Zeol/iml. He did not think the commit tee would have anything to l egret if it. wailed until the meeting of delegtilei V'forn doing anything.. Mr. Man-is: 1 think it is making a (tree, of the whole'business if we allow them to go scot free. On the mi'tion being put to tho meeting if. was lost by four, votes to three. 'IV voting was as follows:—1"or: Marris, I'ifci, Blade. Against: Howe, Cook. Crawford, and ,I'inrn. . Captain Crawford said tlm position tho committee «as in was the aftermath of what tho old committee hail failed to do. Tho new committee had had to do the "dirty work."

The Chairman Resigns. After r.everal other members had criticised the nctioys of the old commit(ee in regard to. their attitude tb the niaying of amended rules by Auckland, Mr. Marris announced that, as a result of the vote that had been recorded, he could not see his way to continue as a member of the committee. He had no personal feeling against Auckland-up till recently he had represented j the union there-hut Hie unfair taction adopted b,v the Auckland committee in trying to cover up its playing of (lie-amended rules, in his opinion, called for some action. As none was being taken he considered tluit the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union was being held up to ridicule, and he did not. think that was right. The,telegram from the Auckland Union received that day had only come to hand after an urgent message had been sen I to Auckland. In resigning from lie chairmanship of Hie committee he desired to mnk" it clear that ho continue to take an interest in football, and would still remain a, delegato ot Tarauaki. . Members strongly Dressed Mr. .Marris to reconsider his decision, but he definitely refused to do so, nnd on the motion of Captain Crawford, seconded by Captain .Tones, his resignation was accepted with extreme regret.