FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 207, 7 September 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE HUIA PROTEST,

Notes nv “ The Whistle

Tin-: decision of the Management Committee of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union to submit the protest lodged by the Huia Club against West Knd to the New Zealand llugby Union for consideration will come as a disappointment to followers of the game in tliis district. The grounds on which the protest was based were that West End had played Carr in last Saturilav’s match, contrarv to rule No. 43 of

Vi B IiJrIH.II, V.UIKI nt J '-'J ‘ • * - “" the, Union’s bye-laws, which reads as follows Any stranger arriving during the season, or prior to the Ist day of April, may be allowed to play for the district in which lie is residing upon satisfying the Management Committee that lie intends becoming a bona fide resident, but no application of this nature will be considered until such stranger has resided in the district for a period of seven days.” it appears that Carr complied with the regulation as to a seven days' residence before the match, but loft the district by boat the day after the match was played. The Union had a difficult point to decide as to whether the player or the Club purposely misled the Union in satisfying the Committee that lie intended becoming a bona fide member before being passed by the Union, and the whole question opened up some intricate questions of law, which it would have taken Mr Justice Conollyall

his time to unravel. The members of the Union appear to have been appalled at the task set them, and adopted the somewhat weak-kneed alternative of throwing the onus of interpreting one of their own bye-laws on the .shoulders of the New Zealand Union. Wo should not be surprised if the governing body in Wellington refers the matter back to the local Union for decision. JJad the Union decided the protest on Thursday evening, either Club would have been within its rights in appealing against the decision to the Now Zoalan l Union. In future, we hope to see the local Union deal promptly and (irmly with matters of this kind brought before them, and not shirk the very duties for which they have been appointed to the executive.

The game to-day between lluia and Kaiti is exciting a great deal of interest. Whatever club wins will have to [day off with West Kml in the deciding match for possession of the Danner, lluia will have its best team b- the held, while Kaiti has been traiming hard, and, although they have lost a good man in Halbert, who left for Wellington some clays ago, Donald Dorter is expected from the South by this morning's boat, and intends taking his piaco in the team. A good game should result.

West End are reported to havo secured tho services of a couple of good men in (lollop, a late Taranaki kickist, who plays behind the scrum, and K. Campbell, who has been performing well at full-back in Napier this season.