MR WHIBLEY SUSPENDED.

Shannon News, 28 July 1922, Page 3

MR WHIBLEY SUSPENDED.

FROM HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION. OUTCOME OF THE BETTING CHARGES. Tlie Horowhenua Rugby Union Management Committee further considered the charge brought by Mr F. Whibiey, a member of the Management Committee, against a l'ellow member, Mr W. Bevan, of having made a bet on the result of the liui Mai-Foxton match played recently at Manakau. At last week's meeting the committee passed a motion to the effect tiiat Mr Whibiey had not proved his charge. Mr Bevan thereupon stated that Mr Whibiey should apologise or resign, and if he refused to do either he (Mr Bevan) would withdraw from the committee.

When the ordinary business was disposed of on Tuesday, Mr Bevan stated that he had made it- plain at the previous meeting that if Mr Whibiey did not resign he would do so, and later on at that meeting Mr Whibiey said he would make a statement at this week’s meeting.

Mr Whibiey: I understand that Mr Bevan suggested I should resign.

Mr Bevan: Yes, I consider you owe me an apology. You won’t do that, and I say if you are not prepared to apologise 1 will not sit on the committee with you. That is my feeling.

NO INTENTION OF RESIGNING. Mr Whibiey: I am pleased you make ihat plain, as I have no intention of resigning. He stated at last meeting Mr Bevan had said a man had handed him some money after the game at Manakau, and that the man was Bryant. The speaker had asked him how he knew it was Bryant when he had previously stated-he did not know Bryant. Mr Bevan then said lie had inquired from Mr Desmond, who had informed him it was Bryant. “I questioned Mr Desmond on that point,”

said Mr Whibiey, ‘‘and he denies that Mr Bevan asked him the ■ question.” Mr Whibiey went on to refer to another bet Mr Bevan was alleged to have made 'With someone from Foxton on the Pakeha v. Maori match. The chairman: I will not allow that. Mr Whibiey: I can make another charge on the Pakeha-Maori match.

The chairman: I absolutely refuse to take that statement.

Mr Whibiey: And I refuse to withdraw or apologise, and I am not going to resign. Mr Bevan said he would see this thing through, and he can take it as far as he likes. He can go on with the game. Mr Bevan: It is just as I thought. Mr Whibiey brought this charge and he can’t prove it. Addressing Mr Whibiey, he said: ‘‘l don’t think you are a man at all, and if you said that outside I think 1 would' know how to deal with you. If I called you a thief and could not prove it, what would you expect of me? I would resign.” He added that he had always done his best for football, and there was no one who could say anything against him. Mr Whibiey had done nothing for the game and was not likely to do anything. “I will resign,” he said. He would not continue to sit on the committee with Mr Whibiey. Mr Whibiey: I have nothing to say. I will leave it to the public to judge.

I have no objection to Mr Bevan resigning, but I am not. The chairman said he did not think Mr Bevan should resign. Mr Whib ley had not proved his charge. Mr W. Thomson': Are we going to allow a member to resign over a charge that has not been proved against him? Members: No.

Mr Thomson: When a charge has failed and the man who brought it refuses to apologise or withdraw, it is time the Management Committee dealt with it. The chairman has power; it is in his hands.

The chairman: No; I am not going to allow a valuable member like Mr Bevan to resign. Mr M. Winiata said he was nor at the last meeting, but he gathered the charge had been thrown out. (The motion passed by - the committee—that the charge was not proved—was read.) The speaker said that when the matter was first brought ,up Mr Whibley was quite satisfied to leave it in the hands of a Board or the Management Committee to inquire into. He took it Mr Whibley would be mail enough to accept the decision arrived at, hut instead he was not satisfied ( now. Mr Winiata said he honestly thought air Whibley owed

Mr Bevan an apology. Mr Bevan said ever since he camel on the Management Committee Mr 1 Whibley had had a grudge against } him. j I

Mr Whibley: That’s not right. i Mr Bevan referred to the selection 1 of one of the rep. teams, and also the j side to play the Maori touring team, j which Mr Whibley said were picked by him (the speaker). He denied that any slight was intended Mr Desmond, the Foxton selector, because a rep. team, was selected in his absence. The speaker was quite ihnofent in that

matter As regards the betting charge, he was prepared to meet Bryant or any witness Mr Whibley liked to bring along. He could not do anything more, than that, and would refuse to sit on the committee in future with Mr Whibley. The chairman: Mr Whibley has been asked to apologise to Mr Bevan for the accusations made. He asked Mr Whibley if he intended to apologise. APOLOGY REFUSED. Mr Whibley: No, I have no intention of apologising. He had stated ■before that the charge was not made because anything had been done underhand, hut that it was .wrong to bet. Mr Bevan: But if there is no bet? Mr Whibley: That’s all right. Mr Bevan: l am sorry I can’t stay here any longer. The chairman (to Mr Whibley): Are you still convinced that Mr Bevan had that betP Mr Whibley: What if I am? The chairman: Unless you apologise I will resign. Mr Whibley: That is not a lair attitude to take up. The charge was made in the interests of football, pure and simple. “UNMITIGATED PIFFLE.’’ Mr Thomson: That is unmitigated piffle. Do you say the charge is in the interests of football? Is that British fairplay, or do you think you can flout the committee? Before Mr Bevan resigns the committee should suspend Mr Whibley until he apologises. Mr R. W. Percy quite agreed that Mr Whibley had brought the charge and had been unable to prove it. In the circumstances he should apologise, and even go further than that. The speaker was in accord with Mr Thomson that Mr Whibley should be’ suspended. Mr Whibley: How?

Mr Percy: By vote of the meeting. Mr L. Dixon said the charge made was a serious one, and the chief witness, Bryant, would not come before the committee. It was now in the chairman’s hands to suspend Mr Whibley.

The chairman: If Mr Whibley does not resign I will resign in sympathy with Mr Bevan.

Mr Winiaia (to Mr Whibley): Don you think you owe an apology? Mr Whibley: No, I don’t consider do.

Mr Bevan and Mr Thomson then rose and made to leave the meeting, saying it was useless staying ’ any longer. They were prevailed upon, however, to remain.

MR WHIBLEY SUSPENDED

In reply to the chairman, Mr Whibley- repeated that he would not apologise.

The Chairman: Well, you are, sus pended.

Mr Whibley: Suspended? What does that mean—-for life?

Mr Dixon: You ai’e suspended from sitting on the Committee. Mr Thomson: You take part in public affairs. There must be some constitutional method of dealing with sruch a position.

Mr Whibley: I question that, but suggest you suspend me altogether.

Mr Thomson: I think that is the wrong attitude. What is the position now?

The Chairman: I think members have been fair to Mr Whibley, but I will give him one more chance of apologising.

Mr Whibley :I have no intention o apologising.

Mr Thomson: Well, you won’t he able to sit at future meetings. Mr Whibley: For how longP The Chairman: Till you apologise.

Mr Whibley: Well, that’s for ever. He asked if he could bring the matter up at a special meeting of delegates. The chairman replied in the negative.

Mr Whibley did not agree, but said he was quite satisfied with his suspension and would see what happened. He then retired. Mr Thomson moved that the secretary of the Foxton Club be informed that Mr Whibley was suspended from sitting on the Management Committee on the grounds that he made a serious charge against a fellow member of the management committee which he failed to prove and refused to withdraw or apologise. This was seconded by Mr Dixon and carried.