A RUGBY INCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3520, 5 August 1926, Page 2

A RUGBY INCIDENT.

DISCOURTEOUS TREATMENT DENIED

WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION INDIGNANT.

The calm of the meeting of the management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union was somewhat disturbed on Tuesday night when the following letter from the Mana-watu-llorowhenua Rugby Union was read: —

“The Ilorowhenun Rugby Council lias protested against tbe treatment your union had shown them when visiting your city on July 21, on the occasion of supplying the curtainraiser to the Wellington v. Maori match. They state that after the conclusion of the curtain-raiser the manager and team were refused admission to your stand (although ample seating accommodation was available) and the team were compelled to sit in the cold after playing in your union’s interest. They further state, if this kind of courtesy is continued, then they refuse to send away further teams for any union’s benefit in the future. My union directs me to resent the action taken, and trusts your committee will go into the matter with those concerned. Thanking you in anticipation, yours sincerely.—Signed J. B. Proud, Secretary.” The secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union (Mr A. E. Nielson) had no sooner finished reading the letter when Mr G. F. Jackson indignantly exclaimed : “It is absolutely contrary to fact. They ought to. make enquiries and find out the real position before writing a letter like that. It is a pack of lies.” Mr A. E. Nielson: The New Zealand Rugby Union had control of the ground for the day, and granted permission for the match to be played, provided there was no expense entailed to them. When the curtain-raiser had finished I personally conducted the Maoris including their eleven emergencies and their manager, into the stand to certain seats reserved for them. Later on I found them sitting in seats reserved for season ticket holders. I took them away from them without any fuss.” Mr Jackson: “We resent the tone of their letter*. I don’t think we should sit down and take quietly a letter like that.”

It was decided to inform the Ma-nawatu-Horowhenua Union that the tone of their letter was resented, and the secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union was instructed to place before the Manawatu-Horo-whenna Union the correct facts.