ROLLER MILLS SHIELD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5470, 4 September 1929, Page 3

ROLLER MILLS SHIELD.

BILLETING OF BOYS. STATEMENT EXPLAINED. The unfortunate misapprehension about the Roller Mills Shield competition caused by a remark in the Auckland “Star” to the effect that “the Thames Valley boys were not worthy of consideration in respect to billeting/’ was later explained and somewhat nullified in the same paper when the following was published Referring to the season why Thames Valley (holders) had not controlled the tournament, Mr E. Turner (manager) stated that it had not been made to appear that the Thames Valley people had run last year’s tourney, and a comparatively small town like Paeroa had found accommodation for 150' visitors. While the district holding the shield had first right to have the tourney, there was a clause in the conditions that in the event of the holders not being able for any reason to carry it through, the question of venue must be referred back to the executive, which had then to decide to which district it was to be allocated. While the whole resources of the Thames Valley district had been thrown open to last year’s visitors (who made many complimentary references t; the unbounded hospitality received), Mr Turner considered that the country towns were unable to offer anything like the attractions to the boys such as a city could. In addition, the present period happened to be a particularly busy one for the farming community, which had billeted a good proportion of the visitors last year. All these things had been taken into consideration and the executive advised' in goed time that Thames Valley coukl not accept the 1929 tourney. Th ; s' was a question of management, and obviously should not affect their players (who had come to defend their title) in any arrangements. “The justice of Mr Turner’s final statement-is quite plain; It should be stated, however, that all but two of the Thames Valley boys are staying with friends or are billeted, and no doubt the people in whose homes they are staying would be only too glad to have the boys over the week-end, if necessary. The King Country players have nearly all been put up at a private hotel, at the expense of the Auckland Primary Schools’ Rugby Union, and in view, of that it is impossible t j carry them over the official closing of the tournament. An effort is being made privately to place the King Country boys to enable them to see the Canterbury-Auckland match.” It is quite evident that the reporter responsible for the first statement had been misled. The many parents who took exception to the first report will be glad to learn that Mr E. Turner, as manager of the team, had the matter put right. Mr Turner statds that riu local entertainme t was arranged or concessions made to the boys except that they were allowed to attend the Auck-land-Canterbury match free. The Thames Valley paid their own boarding expenses, amounting to some £5, to enable the boys to stay over until Monday, so that they could see the important match and some of the points of interest in Auckland. The Thames Valley' boys returned from Auckland by the Thames special on Monday afternoon. The King Country boys"; the. present holders of the Roller Mills Shield, were present at the station to farewell the' local team,’and there was an exchange of cheers and good feeling.