HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2570, 21 April 1923, Page 4

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

The first meeting of the newlyelected Management Committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Union, was held at Levin on Tuesday night, tthere being present Messrs J. Procter, Grimstone, Hutchins, Sciascia, SW. Bevan, McMillan, Austin, E. J. ’Nash, J. Casey, and the secretary, iMr L. Carmichael. Mr Procter was 'elected chairman. It was. decided that the season open on May 5. Four new clubs sent notification of intention to play during the coming season, and asked that colouis be awarded, which was done as follows: M'outoa, black and white; Mangahao sky-blue; Koputaroa, red and white; Otald, which is an amalgamation of Old Boys and Otaki Club, green jerseys and white shorts.

FOXTON GATE ARRANGEMENTS The secretary of the Foxton Club wrote in connection with the suspension of that Club for failure to account for its gate arrangements and stated that the Foxton Club failed to see eye to eye with the Union in this matter. They considered that the Union was also to blame as Mr Whibley, who was responsible for the gate arrangements was a member of the Management Committee and therefore the representative of that body. In regard to players suspended for not playing in a Rep. match when picked, they stated that the men had not received notice that they were expected to play. The secretary explained that the trouble arose from Mr Whibley stating that Foxton had its own gatekeeper and on that account the matter was left to them, as had been done the previous year, with satisfactory results. Mr Whibley had •not been appointed to represent the Management Committee: it was as representative of the Foxton Club that, lie stated, they had a satisfactory way of attending to the mat - ter, which had been left to the club. After a lengthy discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mi H. Hutchins, seconded by Mr Seiascia, “That no blame be attached to the Foxton Chib which was doing all in its power to arrange the matter. This was carried. Mr Hutchins asked how the Foxton men who were suspended for failing to play were notified that they were included in the team. The secretary explained that he had got in touch with the Foxton secretary who told him that no Foxton men would play. The trouble appeared to he that Foxton had been disappointed at not being allocated a Rep. game and was piqued in consequence. Mr Sciascia asked if these men’s 'names had been published in the papers as being included in the team. The secretary said that as soon as these men were selected he had got in touch with the Foxton Club, asking why Mr Desmond, the selector, did not attend to pick the team, which had been picked in his absence, and was told the Foxton men would not play. Other men had then been brought in to fill the team and the amended list of players published.

Mr Hutchins said "that Mr Desmond expected the team to he picked after a game which was held in Levin just before the matter came up for decision. He had waited on in Levin for the purpose and finding that nothing was being done, had gone back to Foxton and taken no further interest in the proceedings. Mr W. Bevan said that he and the other selector had picked the team in the absence of Mr Desmond, and that when: speaking to Mr Desmond after the selection lie had expressed himself as perfectly satisfied with the team picked. Mr McMillan-asked if I Imre was any regulation way of notifying men that they were picked to p!av in a rep. match. The secretary: Only through the Press.

Mr 'Hutchins: That hardly seems right as some men may not gel the paper.

Mr Bevan said he had spoken with the secretary of the Foxton Club, who had jtold him that these men would be available. The chairman,: That puts a different complexion on the matter. If Mr Bevan % received this assurance from the secretary, the blame must rest on the men. Mr^Bevan said that this sort of thing could not he allowed to go unchecked. If it were they would be in the position that any club which disagreed with the l'nion oxer any point eon Id refuse to play. Mr Procter moved that the players he suspended until such lime as they appear before the Management Committee to.explain their failure to piny. This was seconded by "Mr Seinsein and carried. SHAXXOX’S SrSPEXSTOX. Tn the ease of the Shannon Club which was also suspended for having failed through the omission of the secretary to account for gatemoney, it was decided that as all moneys had now been received the suspension be raised.