FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 12 June 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Referring to the deputation from the sub-union which waited, on the Manawatu Union on Tuesday, “Spectator,” of the Manawatu Standard says :—“ The Foxton Sub-union sent a deputation to the local committee on Tuesday night, and it was not long before trouble commenced. The visitors took up a rather impertinent attitude, and completely upset the majesty of the “chair.” Their demand certainly smack of coolness. At this late state in the season they are calmly asking for a definition of the boundaries between the parent Union and its very casual offspring —a definition which, if granted, would mean the exclusion of the Carrolls and McNae from the Feilding team and probably two or three from Old Boys. The deputation could hardly be said to have acted in a gentlemanly manner, and the climax was reached when the voluble young orator who was their spokesman demanded that the question be settled there and then. The chairman quickly settled him and he retired ! The committee would be foolish if they were to spoil the competition here by excluding any of the players who have been with their clubs from the commencement of the season.” The above is chock full of misleading statements. “Spectator” says that at this late stage of the season the sub-union is calmly asking for a definition of the boundaries. If he looks into this subject he will find that the subunion asked that players residing within their boundaries be prevented from playing for Manawatu Clubs, before the cup matches commenced in Palmerston, bat could get no satisfaction from that body! The only apparent reason why this policy has been allowed to continue, is that the players concerned are prominent members of the Feilding team, and Mr Fred Pirani, a strong supporter of that club, is President of the Manawatu Union and dominates the whole show. It has been said that Mr Pirani is the Manawatu Union and according to the manner in which that body is run it appears as if that is correct. “Spectator” refers to the sub-union as a “casual” offspring. What he means by this is not quite clear. During the time the sub-union has been affiliated to Manawatu that body has benefited to the extent of something over £ 2O. What has the sub-union got in return for that money ? Absolutely nothing 1 Another slight inaccuracy in “Spectator’s” remarks, he says that if the boundaries submitted are approved it would mean the exclusion of the Carrolls and McNae from the Feilding team and probably two or three from Old Boys. In reference to McNae, it would not in any way affect this player as he does not reside within the boundaries submitted. Also the Carrolls, “Spectator” surely remembers Mr Pirani’s remarks in reference to these. He said “Carrolls will never play for Foxton even if the boundaries are approved, as they are about to shift to Feilding.” Of course everybody would not take that statement seriously, but Mr Pirani said so, and that should be sufficient—at least for “Spectator.” One thing Mr Pirani omitted to inform the members of the deputation was, whether the Carrolls intended leaving their farm at Glen Oroua and residing in Feilding for the sole honour and glory of playing for the club he represented. “Spectator’s” statement that the boundaries would probably affect two or three of the Old Boys players is absolute “tommy rot.” “Spectator” knows very well that this is not so, and the only reason for making the statement appears to be, that it might influence that club’s representatives on the Manawatu Union’s Management Committee, when the matter is dealt with on Tuesday night. What a pity it is that Mr Pirani cannot find a place for “Spectator” on the Manawatu Union’s Management Committee; he would make a very servile lickspittle and would no doubt take the president’s sneering and jeering remarks lying down. ’

If the Manawatu Union will only take the trouble to turn up the correspondence received from the sub-union they will find that the boundaries have been submitted, and that it is their own fault that the present trouble has arisen. However, the dispute will no doubt be settled at Tuesday night’s meeting, as the majority of the Manawatu Management Committee must see that Foxton is in the right.