FOOTBALL.

Otaki Mail, 20 June 1923, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE UNION AND REFEREES. DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED. Probably the largest meeting ol' footballers held in Otaki for many years took place at the Otaki Town Hall on Monday night. Mr S. P. Eddy presiding. Insurance Fees. After advising all players who had not paid their insurance fee and subs, to uo so without delay, the main questions of the evening were proceeded with. Protests. The Seereiary (Air Mclntyre; reported that uii behali c»i the juniors lie hau lodged a protest against liui Mai’s win uii Saturday lor piaying three seniors, it being shown by a report that the piaveis mentioned had been classiiied. —Action endorsed. Referee Criticised. Saturday's match, Otaki v. liui Alai, aas then tuny discussed, it being Hie opinion that Mr rtuata (iciercc) had made a serious mistake in awarding a iry to Alanakau after the bail had been forced by an Olaki player (Udy). The •core, it was pointed out, had altered ihe result of the game and had robbed ■Jtaki of the match. Air lienaie laiuwi time umpire) said ne was very dissaUsiied with Uie decision, and added that he destinctly .aw L'dv force tne hall. Aleta Johnson, he said, then came along and touched down and a try was awarded. In .tis opinion a protest was useless but ae considered an appeal should be lodged with the Union. There was a possibility that tiic match would lie re play ed. ALr I’. Tahiwi (captain) said he was also very dissatisJicd with the decision, and was sure the spectators would not have hooted had they not had cause. He had never seen such a demonstration against a referee in Otaki before, lie had questioned Air Karat a on the decision and was told that he could appeal, but it was pointed out that he had very little chance of success. lie (the .speaker) made allowances for mistakes by referees but the one in dispute appeared to him to be a glaring one.. He suggest cal that an appeal be lodged. The .Secretary said lie had already lodged a protest, being obliged to do so within a certain time. Air Tom O'Rourke said lie had al jeady spoken to the 31.ui Alai Chib on the matter, ami suggested that supporters of the Otaki Club, who were unbiassed, be asked to give support. All who were near were willing: to give evidence, and an ex-member oi the -Management C< mmittee (Mr Dixon) was emphatic in liis opinion that Air Karata had made a mistake. Air O’Kourke said he had ai.-o spoken to Air Carmichael (fjecrela y of the l nion) on tin- matter, and he understood that the matter would be brought before the Referees’ Associa , iion. Otaki, lie considered, was fully justified in appealing and he hoped that ; .if maicii would be replayed. Mr Batchelor said he understood that there had always been a repulsion of feeling against Air Karata refereeing iz; Hui Alai-Otaki matches, and pointed out that Air Baker had asked that an 1 other referee be appointed for the match. This was partly agreed to and it was thought all would be in order, but evidently the Fnion did not try I u avoid trouble. Air Burroughs could i ! -asily have heeir appointed, j Air O'Rourke moved that the >ecre- [ tary's action in lodging a* protest be J ! approved. Air i\ Wilson supported previous j speakers and .-aid be was jri a position ! I to see the ball grounded by Udy. 11 is bjother, who was captain of the Hui ' Mai Club, was also dissatislied at Ali Karata ’s decision. Air Buna Taipua. a player, said he * saw Udy force the ball. Had Udy not J secured it he was nearby and could, have forced before Hui Alai players p reached it. j The Chairman considered the game far too fast for Mr Karata, and had | previously pointed out that Mr Karata J bad been unfair. Air Batchelor suggested that ail unpleasantness be got over if possible, but if they could get no redress from the Union the Club should certainly take the matter further. The Chairman considered the Union 'bowed a lack of judgment in appointing the referees. AJ.r O'Rourke suggested that a vote of| ecu sure be passed on the referee. The Chairman said there was no chance of winning the protest, but ventilation of the matter would do good for the future. He thought they should ivoid referees who would not give them i fair go. and favoured getting outside referees even if their expenses had to L - ji‘ paid.

After further discussion it was decid-f ed to wait on the Union to support the } i .ppeal and that Messrs H. if. LUAth,/, A. .J. Podevin, T. O’Rourke. H. Tahivi. 1 • D: xor:. Batchelor and F. Wilson be ask- | • ed to accompany the delegates. Not Businesslike. h The Chairman said the Union’s at- ' tention should also be drawn to the fact that it had made no arrangement with the Otaki Borough Council rotalive to the gate takings. A- present, he said, anyone could put in an appli- . '* cation ur.ii —.-ore the ground. The 1 a Secretary, he consjuVn-d. v.a- in the “■ habit of doing thing* verbally instead * >* *>£ putting them in writing. t ' Mr Hansby took exception to tele- ] *■” phone messages coming from the S.-cre- ' l r< inry re representative matches, while J rn Mr Batchelor pointed out that players ' ticked were liable to suspension for not turning up. In face of this players reitived no proper notice. Queen Carnival Money. Father Vi baud made reference to the nortey raised by the rjwen carnival ind considered footballers should see •hat some of the money was spent on hc-ir behalf. The Chairman, who favoured the erec- , ion of a grandstand, said the money j

• : | would be handed over to the Borough | Council for expenditure, but that recommendations would be made by the Executive. Votes of Thanks. Hearty votes of thanks wore accorded the Rev. Fathers Melu and Vibaud for placing a gymnasium at the disposal of the Club. Playing Overtime. Mr Hansby asked whether it was true .hiit Saturday’s match was played overtime, but was assured that the match vas played exactly to time. At the last meeting of the Shannon Chamber ol' Commerce Mr Beard (Shannon) drew attention io wliat he considers an unfair advantage taken by the ilorowkenua Kugby Union in eentralisug all the representative football matches at Levin. Shannon in the past, had shown that it could command a good gate and he understood Fox ton iiad guaranteed a £2~> gate and lie bought these towns should have been considered. He thought in the interests if the town and football the Chamber should assist the local club to have the resolution rescinded. The members present were unanimously in accord with the speaker’s suggestion. Mr Murray then moved: “That this Chamber deplore the action of the Horowhemm Kugby Union in voting thut all rep. matches be held in Levin, seeing hat Shannon wits mi successful linanoiallv and otherwise in the past and iu the best interest of the sport, respectfully ask the Kugby Union to reconsider their decision.” —Carried. It was also decided that a copy oi the resolution be forwarded to the Levin, Foxton and Otaki Chambers asking for their cooperation. Te lioro v. Partiparuumu: —Wells, Clay. Carkeek, i’uli. Thomas, Smith, Chaney, Mack. I’oltio, Stewart, l’lutey, Morgan, Waka, Thomson, Tamaki, Faith. it is not vet known locally whether any junior mutches will be played on Saturday but Otaki and Te lioro Clubs have both picked teams to play Parapaniumu. Some day the Union may wake up and show a bit of interest in tlti> part of the district! Our telephone has been hot till day owing to emjuiries from players, and enlightenment from -the Union would be welcome. t r UNION MEETING. At a meeting of the Kugby Union hist night a deputation from the Otaki Clul. waited upon that body and voiced it- feelings relative to Mr Buraia’s decision in Saturday’s match: Mr Burnt a was present and maintained that the try was a fair one, and he was upheld by the Union. The Otaki (junior) protest, against Mini Mai juniors wn.s also dismissed. the Union stating the players mentionled had never been classilied. Mr T. OTbnirke drew attention to 'the fact that players had not yet been notified that they were needed for Saturday's rep. match, and commented on 'he slipshod manner in which the affair- of the Union were being carried out. lIOROWIIENUA REP. TEAM. TO FLAV i’ALMKKSTOX NEXT SAT UK JEW. Mr J. .T. ft’Connor, sole selector of rhe Hornv. henna Kugby Union, lias chosen the following team to play Manavrntu at Levin next Saturday: Full back: Meta John-tort (Hui Mai) Thr quarters: Udy (Otaki), Kelly fShannon ), Wells t Weraroa). Live eighth-: Batchelor fOtaki) Head ( Fox t oti). Half: K. MelJonald (Wanderers). Wing forward: H. Jacob (Wanderers). Hooker-: Hands (.Shannon), Howell Wanderers). Lock: Tana (Hui Mai). Supports: Broughton (Weraroa;, ‘ ivnihar: (Shannon). Back row: Rhode- (Otakt;. T. Gard•er (Hui Mai). Emergencies: Half: I.entha.n (Shac- : «•!.*_;; back, Baker (Foxton j; forv-.nrd- ' ooker) ilakaraia 'Otaki). Campion Wanderers), Marsh 'Foxton).