RUGBY UNION

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1932, Page 2

RUGBY UNION

CONDEMNATION OF HOME AUTHORITIES WELLINGTON, July 13. An indication that it proposed to take a firm stand in the event of iti3 request for dispensations falling on deaf ears \yas given at a meeting of the Management Committee. of the New Zealand Rugby* Football Union this evening, when the question of replacement and leaving of the field at half-time was discussed. The attitude of the Home authorises was the subject or general condemnation, the opinion being expressed freely that the day was coming rapidly to “call their ll’uff.” It was decided to postpone the questioft of calling a special meeting until a reply had been received from Australia, whose support had been solicited. MR WRAY’S CABLE. The chaimart, Mr Dean, said that some of 'tlie union seeired to be unaware of instructions which 'had come from England and of a cablegram, received from Mr Wrtty, London representative, on June 16, reading! “Reference to back page Of youf annual, report Rugby Committee mbbtfe on June 30. Pearce suggests t Obtain before •then NeW ZSidaM’s ilsatirahce that fiiUtioli tt> discriminate re acceptance of nmendmeuts of laws wag rejected. He also asks whether New Zealad. has sanctioned substitutes, . saving this is entirely foreign to Home unions. I fear serious consequences if practice is sanctioned.”

To this the committee replied; “Canterbury’s motion withdrawn, apd annual meeting unanimously reaffirmed decision to abide by ruled laid down by International Beard. All unions, ,instructed ,tliat rejolacemeints are not allowed.”

In view of the strong feeling of dissatisfaction which ha'd since been aroused,' the New Zealand Union had communicated with Mr Wray in the hope of dispensations. Having given assurance that they,, would abide by 1 the • laws, they bad no Alternative but to • advise the unions to fall into line and carry cut. the English instructions .

NOT SPORTSMANSHIP

Mr Dean said he did not think any member of the committee approved of the attitude of. the English Unions. Although it was the practice for teams in the Old . Country to stay on the field there were good reasons for not •adopting . a . similar custom in New Zealand. 'Personally he thought :i*r was disgusting to see plnyeis remaining on the- field at'half-time chewing oranges ahd tfirbwiHg peelings abuuL rt was not a very edifying spectacle. He thought they were all agreed, that to forbid replacements wad not an act, of sportsmanshipi ' Mr Dean said' a reply had not yet been received to the. union’s request for dispensations, but - immediately - it came to hand the union would be advised of the decision. The committpe bad no objection of the unions bolding a special meeting, . “If the Home authorities sanction tlie practices to which we have become accustomed, we will be quite happy, but if they don’t then I think we ought to make a very definite protest,” Mr Dean said.; “We have informed Australia of ' the' action we have taken and asked for their Support. The Australian Council is meeting on Monday evening next, and we expect a reply immediately afterwards.”

Mr T. A. Fletcher said the genera) opinion was that the English Union' was unreasonable in insisting up no replacements. Conditions at Home were different from those in New Zealand. English club matches were me"e or less social functions. Here fotobaM was based upon competition.

WOULD BE BROUGHT TO HEAD VMr H. S. Leith: They are putting the test on us. The Question is whether we shouldn’t put ‘it on them and allow replacements. The matter would then be brought to a head. Mr Dean: Suppot-irig they say that ■ unless we do as we are told our affiliation must cease? ■it, Mr Hylton: We would be expelled like France was. ;j Mh Leith: 1 don’t quite agree with that. You must remember that we are part and parcel of the Empire. 1 think that they would think twice about spelling us. Mr A. C. Kitto: There its no doubt we are reaching a climax. It seems to me that ever since we met Mr Baxter we have had trouble. Mr Dean: The position seems to have been aggravated since we communicated our decision in regard to the commission. Apparently they think we are leading Australia and have adopted this stand, “Well, if New Zealand is going to lead Australia, we will discipline New Zealand.” Mr Hylton: I wonder if they know that Australia has broken away from the lairs of the game as they interpret them. It seems New Zealand is the only country getting the cane at. present. Mr Dean : I suppose they think that if they deal with us Australia will probably come to heel. WHAT N.Z. HAS GIVEN CP. , Mr Eieii her: In agreeing* to abide by the rules we have given up far more than they have. We have given up kicking into touch and also our 2-3-2 scrum. What have they given? -

If 'they are going to expel us for little trivialities then I don’t think it shows a very broad outlook. Mr J. Roach said; that New Zealand had given its word to abide by the law's of the game. It must carry out its word or withdraw it. “Let us be honest about the thing” he added. ' : Mr Hylton said there was no need to wait for a reply froift England. A large number, of unions wanted a special meeting. Why not hold it? In his opinion the sooner it was held the better. _ , Mr Dean said he thought it would be advisable to wait until they heard what Auaralia had to.say. , “TIME TO CALL THE BLUFF.” Mr J. McLeod, of Taranaki who was present by invitation, expressed the opinion that the day was coming to “call the bluff” of the English Union. It had adopted a pin-pricking attitude. He did not think there was any danger of their affiliation being cancelled. ” Mr’ McLeod said he was afraid there was a grave danger that the Home authorities were playing info the hands of a rival code here.