MAY BE CANCELLED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 622, 29 August 1933, Page 5

MAY BE CANCELLED

: wednesday's rugby DIFFERENCE OF OPINION REGARDING DIVISION OF GATE TRIBAL CLUB AND UNION Following a divergence of opinion regarding the allocatiou of the gate money, it- is probable that the intertribal Rugby fixture, Te Arawa v. Matatua arranged for Wednesday afternoon will not take place. An indication in this direetion was given last evening by the president of Te Arawa Tribal Club (Mr. H. Tai Mitchell) following developments at the weekly meeting of the Rotorua Rugby Sub-Union earlier in the evehing. The club's delegate, who was present at the union meetihg, tOok the view that the club should be allowed the whole of the gate mone.y in order to cover expenses but members of the union were of the opinion that the union should receive 20 per cent; of the gross gate. A motion to this effect was about to beput td the meetihg when the club delegate intirilated that he would withdraw the match arranged for September 6 against Tuwharetoa. In a suhsequent statement, Mr. Mitchell indicated that this would probably also mean the postponement of the match against Matatua which had been fixed for tomorrow as orie^of the featul'es of the Spring Carnival. Mr. Mitchell stated that the club felt that it was being placed in an unfair position and that it could not undertake the responsibility for a probable loss. Union Discussion The matter was introduced at last .evening's meeting of the Rotorua Subi Union when the secretary of the TriIbal Club (Mi\ R. Paul) was asked, jwhether the division of the gates for ito-morrow's game had been arrang[ed. 1 Mr. Paul in reply suggested that the ; club be allowed the whole of the gate money in view of the fact that considerable expense would he incurred in entertainment and having r'egard to the fact that the game would be played on a Wednesday when the gate wbuld not be so big as on a Saturday. This suggestion, however, was opposed by several members who "v^ere of the opinion that the unio'n ghohld receive 20 per cent of the gross gate as had been done on the oecasiori of the previous inter-tribal shield match: A motion to this effect was moved and seconded but before it wds put to the meeting, Mr. Paul immediately rose and asked permission to withdraw the third inter-tribal game arranged for September 6 when Te Arawa were to meet Tuwharetoa. The president (Mr. T. S'. Robertson) thereupon moved that the. union take 50 per cent of the gross gate, while Mr. L. Clark remarked that a pistol was being held to the linion's head. Mr. A. G. Cottrell expressed the opinion that the tribal club's delegate had spoken hastily and asked whether he had the authority of the club to withdraw the match. Mr. Paul 'said that he had taken the responsibilit'y upon himself. The matter was discussed at length, members expressing the opinion that r. breaeh with the tribal club on the ouestion should be aVoided. With this end in view, a sub-committee was appointed to confer with the representatives of the tribal club- this morning while a special meeting of the un- - ion is to be held this evening to receive the sub-committee's report and make a final decision. Te Arawa Club's View Following the meeting, Mr." H. Tai Mitchell, president of the tribal club informed the "Post" that it was probable, in view of the union's attitude, that the match fixed for Wednesday would be postponed. The club was of the opinion that at least £30 would be required to cover expenses and entertain the visitors according to the traditional standard of Maori hospitality. It was not considered that the gate for a Wednesday match would reaeh this figure and if the union insisted on taking 20 per cent. of the gate, the club would be called upon to carry the loss. This they did not consider a fair thing in view of the fact that they were providing the match. It was considered a fair proposition that the club should take sufficient from the gate to cover expenses and allow the. union to take any balance. On the occasion of the first inter-tribal match for the shield, the union had collected 20 per cent. of the gate but it was considered more than doubtful whether so good a gate would be obtained on a Wednesday. In view of the union's attitude and the fact that it had now apparently decided to ask for 50 per cent of the gate, the tribal club did not feel disposed to accept.the responsibility and the loss which they considered would probably devolve upon them. "