LOYALTY [?]UESTIONED

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 2, 25 August 1931, Page 3

LOYALTY [?]UESTIONED

RUGBY REF TEAM WITHDRAWAL OF BLAYERS WITHOUT GU/ING NOTICE. "A GROSS INEULT." "For the second time this yezv the Waiariki Football Club, er at Ie: sT members of the Ciub, have dediued to 1 help their union," said Mr. G. H. Mason, president of the Rotorua Rugby Union. at its managenrent committee mexting last night. "It is rumoured that their players pulled out of the representative teanx last Saturday because- of the Unioxx's decision to suspend oue of the'r nunxber for the season, the matter being dealt with- at the last meeting of the committee. "Disregarding the rumour, I take the action of the players in not notx- . fying the selectors of their decision not to be available as a gross discourtasy. I would like to know — as a selectoi", not a union member — through- their delegate definitely why they pulled out. If the rumour is correct it is high time either the Waiariki Club dropped out of football or the committee ceased to be a g'ove'ming body. "ll take this action as a gross insult, not only to myself, but also to my fellow sehttors. Even if the rumour is not correct, I cannot pardon the discourtesy of not not'fying the selectors th-at the members -of the club would not play. I have never before been subjectcd to such insults as have ■ been thrown at the management of the unio-ix by the various Rotorua elubs. In making this last statement I do not refer to any particular club* but all of tbam." The acting secr'etary of the union, Mr. Hend&rson, said that it was reported to h-'m that the players did not care to play and gave no reason for their decision.

Mx\ Mason: "This was only found out because our secretary happened to ri-ng their manager. The representative team might have just been leaving before they found out that the Waiariki men were not going, had the secretary not rung th-eir manager, and we would have found ourselves short. If this is the kind pf treatment wei are going to receive, I will say this much, that as long as I am a selector, these players will never represent Rotorua "in another match." Mr. Price: "It is my beli'ef that th£'y are purposely defying th-e union and the selectors, and they should he disqualified from football altogether for at least two years. They seem to ba trying to i*un the union." Mr. Mason. "I'll promise you that they won't play skittles w'th me. They will never he selected again ns long as I have anything to do with it, and if you want them to play you will have to put me out first." Mr. Price: "I suggest that you demand and explanation from the club.. Something may come to l'ght." Mr. Mason: "I am going to do an unusual thing. I move that the secretary be instructed to communicate with tha Waiariki Club asking why thc'ir members refused to play and requiring a rep :rt for next Monday's meeting." The motion was carried. Match Ag^in^t Tauranga. Messrs. R. Mason and Price reported that Tauraixga wished to play a friendlv representative match with Rotorua, at Rotorua, on August 29. It was decided that a sub-comnxittee, cons'sting of M issrs. Roberton, Cottrell and Henderson, arrange for the match tolxe played. Fixtures for Saturday are : — Whaka School v. Convent School, ( on No. 1 ground at 1.30 p.m. Whaka v. Kahukura, oh. No. 2 ground; semi-finals of Kozie ShiMd/. ^ at 2 p.m. Tauranga v. Rotorua, on No. 1 ground, at 3 p.m. Mr. Pene Haupapa was appointed manager of the repixisentative team. A practice will be held in the Govrrnment Grounds on Thursday at 7 o.m. The coaching will be carr'ed out by Mr. Haupapa and an assistant. As Putaruru and Frankton both wish to play Rotorua, at Rotorua, on September 5, it was decided that the fixtures for that Saturday also he finaliscd. The fixtures are: — Selected junior team v. Frankton juniors, on No. 1 ground at 1.30 p.m. Senior B representatives v. Frankton, on No. 2 ground at 2 p.m. Sen'or A representatives v. Putaruru, on No. 1 ground at 3 p.m. •