RUGBY UNION MEETS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2588, 2 June 1923, Page 4

RUGBY UNION MEETS.

LOCATION OP EBP. MATCHES.

PREVIOUS DECISION AFFIRMED.

The weekly meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Union Management Committee was held at Levin on Tuesday, Mr J. Proctor occupying the chair, there being also present Messrs Bevnn, Austin, Sciaseia, Grimstone, McMillan, Hutchings, and the secretary, Mr L. Carmichael.

Letters of protest -were received from the Shannon and Foxton Clubs against the decision of the Union to hold all rep. matches in Levin. Shannon further protested against what they designated as the erroneous and misleading statements to the effect that rep. matches in Shannon had not been a financial success, made by the chairman of the management ' committee at last week's meeting.

Mr Grimstone explained that this protest was the result of an indignation meeting held in Shannon to protest against the committee’s decision to play all rep. fixtures in Levin. Very strong exception was taken to the committee’s decision and he assured the meeting that the attendance from Shannon at rep. matches would be very small if the decision were adherred to. It was well-known that last year the financial result of the Shannon rep. match was the best in the Union. His Club also wished to know what the chairman had meant by the word “otherwise” in his statement.

The chairman explained that his words did not refer to Shannon, where it was agreed the match had been a success, but to the whole system of distributing rep. matches throughout the Union instead of holding them in one centre and he was very sorry that Shannon through placing a wrong construction on his words should have cause for complaint. Regarding the word “otherwise” complained of he had referred to the question of young players who could learn considerably, front* attending a rep. match. Whilst these young players could travel eight or ten miles they would not be prepared to travel from one end of the Union to the other. For this reason, as these young players had to be considered as they would lie the rep. players of the future, he considered it advisable to hold these fixtures in central position in the Union where they could attend from either end.

Mr Hutchings said that the Committee's decision was particularly unfair to Foxton. Foxton players had to come further to games than any other in the Union, and besides having no railway were under great expense for car-hire. He thought some consideration should be shown them. Further he considered that the public of different centres of the Union should be considered. They were the people who supported football, and their wishes should have some weight with the Union. In reference to the last rep. match played in Foxton, this had been held on a Wednesday, which was an unsatisfactory day in Foxton as the men from the mills could not attend. He was willing to guarantee that if a rep. match were played on a Saturday it would he as successful financially as in any other place in the Union.

Mr Bevan said he did not consider the matter should be re-opened. It had been decided finally at last meeting, and the only thing to do was to consider what action should be taken against those players who had refused' to play in the match against Hui Mai.

Mr Austin: You took the discussion of the Shannon-Moutoa match, which had been decided at a previous meeting. Why not discuss this?

Mr Bevan: The matter Ims been decided .by the Union, and reasons given so why re-open the question? Air Hutchings: Air Austin and I did not know that this matter was coming up lor discussion. In important cases like this I consider that notice of motion should be given. Air Bevan: This is the case: this matter has been decided —voted on, seconded and so forth. If we are going to keep on bringing up matters like , this every question that comes up for discussion will drag through several meetings, and we’ll never get; ; anything done. If you were not prepared at last meeting why did you not ask to have the matter held.over? Air Grimstone said that the matter had been so rushed that he had overlooked doing this. He went on to say that Foxton was prepared to guarantee a gate of £25 for a rep. fixture. They had not got one last year and should have one this year. He asked that the motion of the last meeting be rescinded and the question opened up again. The secretary explained that the reason for refusing to give Foxton a rep. game last year was the fact that the Foxton representative had refused to guarantee a gate. Finally it was moved by Air Austin and seconded by Air Grimstone that the motion regarding the rep. matches ‘be rescinded. This was lost on the vote. . FOXTON-HUI MAI AtATCH. 1 AWARDED TO HUI AIAI. Mr Bevan asked what was going to be done with the Foxton men who refused to play,in the. Hui Mai game, hi The secretary explained that he had-rung up . the secretary of the - Foxton-Club and asked him who these men were, and that the secre-. iary had said he did not know. - Air Hutchings explained that the

trouble in this connection arose through a misunderstanding, and said that at a general meeting held on Friday night it was decided that the game against Hui Mai be proceeded with, and that the question of rep. fixtures be decided later. However, when they had tried to get into touch with Hui Mai they had failed to do so. After a long discussion it was proposed by Mr Hutchings, seconded by Mr Austin that the Fox tonHui Mai match he re-played, subject to Hui Mai’s consent. Mr Bevan proposed an amendment, which was seconded by Mr Sciaseia that the match be awarded to Hui Mai by default.—Carried. GENERAL. The Taranaki Rugby Union wrote asking for a fixture, and it was decided to notify them that the Union would he prepared to arrange a match for any Wednesday in August. Proposed by Mr Bevan, seconded by Mr Austin, that the appointment of the referees he left in the hands of the Referees’ Association. This was carried, a donation of £5 being made to the Association’s funds. Reports of different referees and gate-keepers were received. An application for a general meeting was received from the Shannon and Foxton Clubs to consider the question, moved by Foxton and seconded by Shannon that in lieu of the senior representative team having three selectors, as at present, there be one appointed as a sole selector. It was decided that a general meeting be called for Tuesday, June 5, at 8 p.m., in the Cosmos Theatre, Levin, to consider the question. The United Football Club wrote asking fer the transfer of a player from the Foxton Club. —This was refused, the chairman stating that as the player in question resided in Foxton the Union could not transfer him to a club outside the Union.