FOXTON FOOTBALL CLUB MEETING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2775, 23 August 1924, Page 2

FOXTON FOOTBALL CLUB MEETING.

dissatisfaction with horoWHENUA UNION.

ROHE CAUSTIC CRITICISM. UNION EXECUTIVE ASKED TO ATTEND LOCAL MEETING.

There was a fair attendance in ilie Town Hal! supper-room last night at the special meeting eonvnied hv the local Rugby Football Club. Mr IT. Hutchins (chairman) presided. Tn outlining' the object of the meeting:. Mr Hutchins said that it had been called to straighten out matters in connection with dissatisfaction rife among the local players with regard to the Horowhemia l.'ugbv Union. As chairman of the local club he had evinced great interest in local football and was very disappointed to see tilings come to n head in the manner they had recently when the local learn handed in the Nash cup. He considered the whole trouble was due to the fact that the eluh was not working under any rules and consequently meetings were not always in the best interests of football. As regarded the Union, lie said there was always (rouble with every Union. Foxton was isolated to a certain extern and players found it hard to meet travelling expenses, which were very heavy. Personally, as a delegate from the local eluh to the Union, he had done his host for Poxton. Other clubs were dissatisfied with the Union ns well as Fox ton. Shannon and Olaki also complaining. However, he considered no mailer what the trouble was. the club concerned should deal with the trouble in ;t proper manner before taking drastic steps, as Foxton bad done. Last year trouble bad arisen also. Had Foxton Seniors travelled to Ilui Alai he was of opinion that they would have won the competition. He considered it would have been far better for the team to have made the trip and thrashed the matter out afterwards. It was the same this year. Foxton had handed in the Nash Cup without going into the matter properly. It was town talk that delegates had received a certain amount from the Union for expenses. He wanted to contradict that statement. They had not received one penny piece, nor did they expect to. This year the local delegates had been carried to Levin to Union meetings by Mr S. Austin and all be had received during the year was one case of benzine. Credit was due to Mr Austin and lie considered lie was a good sport. (Hear, hear). Continuing, Mr Hutchins said it was not fair and very discouraging for n man who has done his best for the chib to hear such statements. Mr Delany: Wliat other club would believe them? Mr Hutchins: I don't think any chili would. It was told me in Shannon. however, that we had received £» for expenses. He said he would like to put things on a heller footing and see eluh rules drawn up. Otaki and Manakau both had good rules and had Foxton had a similar set a great deal of trouble would have been obviated. It was more than probable that Foxton Juniors would have won the competition this year had they not “pulled out." Had the trouble been referred to the Management Committee some finality may have been reached wirh out such drastic action on the part of the club. He considered that the Fourth grade players should receive more attention. They lia.d to equip themselves with jerseys, etc. and consequently found it bard to meet travelling expenses. Tll regard to Fourth grade matches-this year, he said that Levin possessed two such teams. High School and \V-e----raroa. Both teams were close together and consequently had no travelling expenses. These teams travelled five times during- the season to Fox ton’s ten times. This was unjust ami some alteration would have to he made. Last" year lie had inn ihe whole matter before the Union, but they would not hear him and treated the matter as a joke. Similarly, there were three senior teams in Levin this year and there were three home games for each. In conclusion be asked members for suggestions for the improvement of matters. ~ Mr Delany: Why has three extra rounds been put on the Fourths before the local team was declared the winners of the championship’? By this means they were made to travel ten times to win.

Mr Hutchins: I was not at tin meeting when it was decided to play I lie extra rounds. Had I been, however, it would not. have made any difference. It is unfair. Mr Alexander: That means that the Union does not take any notice of your opinions?

Mr llutchin>: Sometimes I have a good hearing and other times a poor hearing. At that particular meeting every member with the exception of one, considered the extra rounds should he played. Mr Delany: We have had five rounds now. Will they put on another? Mr Martin: They’ll play round ’till they get square. (Laughter). Mr TTulelFns; I dont’ think thex’e will he any more rounds. Air E. G. Martin said that the attitude of (lie Horovhenua Rugby Union was the cause of all the dissatisfaction. He said Air Hutchins, as delegate to the Union, had done his duty loyally. (Hear, hear). Continuing, Mr Martin said that (lie local delegates were up against a stone wall. One local delegate, a member of a Native team, xvas doing his utmost to create dissatisfaction among local footballers. He alleged that this delegate, instead

of supporting his own home teams cheered on the opponents. As regarded the Union, he did not think that the Union as now constituted, would give satisfaction to any team oilier titan those in Levin. He also referred to the way the Union had treated an appeal against “a star rep. player, who was worth a place in the old age pensioners’ team” and referred to the “bull lights” that had taken place this season. He also said that the day Foxton forfeited in the Nash Cup fixture three other teams had also forfeited. No song had been made about these forfeits. He contended that Foxton people supported football more than Levin residents, but anything outside of Levin did not count with the Union. The H.R.V. was not in the best interests of Foxton and Foxton bad no chance of a square deal. If conditions next season were as bad on the field as they were tills season, be for one, would not play. At the present time Rugby was developing into free tights. In connection with referee Neville’s -appeal against Jacob io the Union some time ago, which was dismissed, lie heard Jacob- use the words complained of, and fouler words. He also complained against the Referees’ Association. In the OtakiFoxton match, Otaki had brought alnng their own referee. He also instanced a ease where a disqualified player was acting as referee. He asked bow it was that a certain player who had been disqualified for life some time ago. was allowed on the field again last year. Mr Hutchins said he did not know «f a disqualified player acting as 1 eferee. . ,

Mr Marlin: 1 refer to Romeo. Air Hutchins: 1 had no idea he was a disqualified player. Air Neville: That is correct. I reported him. Mr Ala it in: I think the H.R.U. use Star Chamber methods over there. They tell you what they choose to. Half the business seems to be done after you leave. Air 11. Reid said jhat it would be more to the point if some suggestion was made for an improvement. Mr Hutchins suggested asking members of the Executive Committee over to Foxton to answer‘questions. Air Reid said that they would answer the questions all right but would carrv on in the same old way. The Union was rotten when he came here five years ago and was just as rotten now. Air Alartin: Our delegate is in an unfortunate position. Air Hutchins: It will do iiq harm to ask them over. They will be able to answer questions better than I can. Continuing, Air Hutchins said that Foxton was the strongest eluh in the Union and he did not think the Union would want to lose Foxton. Air Martin suggested that the IT.R.U. hold its meetings in the different centres where members would be able to interview them and they would then he in touch with all clubs. Air Hutchins considered the idea a good one, but pointed out that it would have to lie decided ou at a general meeting. Air K, AlcEwcn: It was put in action in 1021 and found to he a success. AL- 11 at chins: Yes, but it has since been rescinded. If it was brought up again now I think it would he carried. Air AlcAlurray said they- wanted to do something definite. He then went on to talk about LeagueAir Reid: T rise to a point of order. We are not here to discuss the benefits of League. T’ll give you all tiir League you like after the meeting if you want it. I've played the game. Air AlcAlurray suggested applying to the N.Z.R.U. to join Te Kawnu Union. Air Alexander pointed out that Te Kawau was a sub-union of Atanavvatu. They hadn’t much chance of gelling in with Manavvatu. Mr 11. Ueid said that Foxton had ost. its golden opportunity of joining lip with another union when they ;111 mil down the arrangements he ::iul another member made to go in with Te Kawau before the Boundary Commission sal.

Mr Keiil then moved a vote of thanks to Afr Hutchins for the fight lie had put up for Foxton. This was seconded by Mr Delany and carried unanimously. Mr Hutchins, in returning thanks, -.aid that lie lnid come to the meeting that night to resign from the club. He considered there were men better able to carry on than Jiim as he was living so far out of town. Mr Marlin considered the chairman should see the present trouble through before resigning. Mr Hutchins said he intended to go to the next meeting of the Union. 11. had arranged this meeting so as to get the feeling of the members and on Tuesday night next was going to face the music. Mr McMurray asked Air Hutchins to reconsider his decision. There was not a man but would give him credit for the way in which he had worked. (Hear, hear). Mr Reid moved a vote of thanks to Mr Austin for conveying delegates to Union to meetings free of charge. —Carried unanimously. " It was moved by Mr M. E. Perreau, seconded by Mr H. Hutchins that members of the H.R.U. be invited to attend a meeting at Foxton and bring records of past games, etc., and books in connection with the Union. —Carried. The meeting then terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chair.