FOOTBALL HOSPITALITY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4983, 4 June 1926, Page 2

FOOTBALL HOSPITALITY.

REPORT AGAINST THAMES UNION. EXPLANATION BY PRESIDENT. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the; management committee of the Thu-mes Rugby Union a letter was read from the president of the Thames Valley Union in connection with the resentment expressed by the; Thames Union on reading an allegation of inhospitable treatment at Thames to visiting teams. The letter was as follows :— “I regret to see the report in tonight’s paper regarding challenge cup trophies. I can assure you tha.t no reference was made in my hearing, or in the hearing of all committeemen I have spoken to, against the hospitality of your union to our sub-unions when visiting you for the Peace C>up. I can assure you that to the best of my knowledge all teams, from my union visiting you have been most cordially treated. Personally, I have visited you as manager of the Paeroa team when seeking the Peace Cup, and could not wish for better treatment than that which you were so kind in extending to us.

“I may say that, at our meeting a discussion arose regarding the finances of one; of our sub-unions, a,nd tlie delegates of same were seeking assistance from .the parent body. This, of course., brought 'forward a fair amount of controversy about travelling teams’ expenses, and, at the. same time, it was suggested to curtail expenses by reducing the number of inte.r-union matches. This, of course, we could not agree to, and it was further sugugested that, aubunions’ expenses could be lessened if travelling for challenge, cups be discontinued, as it was thought such matches should not be looked for by unions wiiose finances were not too strong.

“The report df our meeting which appeared in the “P’ains Gazette” and led to this, incident is regretted by all. who saw . it- Almost immediately after its publication the reporter responsible was challenged as to the. statements it. contained, and so far he; has been unable to name any member of the committee who made, such an unsportsmanlike remark about your union, or the hospitality extended to visiting teams from the; district. “Again I sincerely regret that, siuch a publication was made, as it is in no way the feeling of the members of my union.

“I am going further into the matter, and shall be pleased to' advise you of the, results ; also, if you do come to Pae.roa with the Thames team on Saturday next, we can go into the matter personally, as I fully appreciate thq feeling of your union when they saw the remarks reported to ha.ve. been made and published in our local paper.” It was decided to unreservedly accept the apology tendered by the president of the Valley Union as above..

[lt is regretted that our reporter should have, taken notice of any matter discussed other thajn the remarks directly addressed to the chair.—Ed.]