RAHUI CLUB DISBANDS.

Shannon News, 5 September 1924, Page 3

RAHUI CLUB DISBANDS.

DISSATISFIED WITH RUGBY UNION. (Otaki Mail.). • A general m'eiting of the Rahui Football Club was held at Otaki Railway on Friday last. The chairman, Mr. Parker, stated that owing, to the treatment meted to the club by the Horowhenua Rugby Union a team could not be got to play for the Licensea Victuallers’ Cup, 95 per cent, of the players refusing to play under the Union. Under these circumstances the Management Committee could not “carry on” and the meeting was called to put the position before the members.

Mr. (Thomson considered that the club had b'een very unfairly treated, and as the club could not put a team in the field the only thing to do was to disband.

Mr. Tooby related several incidents that happened during the season, which he termed * ‘ the Rugby Union justice, ’ ’ and also stated that the Management Committee, as a whole, tendered their resignation. Mr. Warnock said that the Management Committee had done all in their power to further the interests of clean sport in the Horowhenua district, and he thought that if the club was wound up the H.R.U. would only have themselves to thank.

Mr. Pat Wells, club captain, regretted that such a .fine club, which he said was a credit to Otaki, and the Horowhenua district, should have to disband, but he saw no other alternative. ■' vttJiLJ Mr. Hagan: Is it a fact, Mr. Chairman,* that after the hearing of the first protest some of the Union officials stated that they knew the referee to be wrong? • Voices: Yest. Mr. Parker Several members of the Union told us that the referee was wrong but said they must uphold him (the referee). We did our best but were powerless. I’ll go further than that, said Mr. Parker, some of your committee wore informed that at the meeting of the Referees’ Association the referee, whose -rulings we protested against, was proved wrong. Continuing, Mr. Parker stated that owing to several of the rear divisions being injured the dub applied to have a senior player, who could not get a game in that grade, re-instated, it being consid-, ered that the club had a good case, especially as the Hui Mai Club were able to get three senior men re-instated as juniors, but the Union turned the application down. With regard to Moki, this man was classified senior by the Union but had not been notified and had played junior in Wellington. How is it possible, said Mr. Parker, for any man to know whether he has been classified if he is not notified by the Union? Although the Union admitted that Moki had played junior football all the season and had never been notified of his classification, they penalised our club and also disqualified Moki for the season. Mr. Parker then moved a vote of no-confidence in the Horowhenua Rugby Union. Mr. R. Thomson seconded the motion and on being put was carried unanimously. Mr. Pat WfiU ß moved that the club be disbanded.

Mr. Warnock seconded, and was carried unanimously. TVTr- Thomson moved a. vote of thanks to the secretary for his paßt services. Mr. Siddells seconded. —Carried. A vote of thanks was also accorded the Management Committee, which was carried by acclamation. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.