HOT “A PACK OF LIES.”

Shannon News, 27 August 1926, Page 1

HOT “A PACK OF LIES.”

STATEMENT OF WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION DENIED. Relative to the recent allegation toy the Horowhenua Riuigby District GoUncil in connection with the treatment meted out to the Maori Horowhenua team after their match with Wellington on July 21st, the Wellington Rugby Union made reply. It was stated toy the latter that the Horowhenua Management Committee would have done well to ascertain the true facts of the case before writing in the strain they did. Firstly, the match was not played in the interest of the Wellington Union, but arranged by cerain Maoris in the Wellington and Horowhenua districts, Secondly, on that day. Athletic Park was under the control of the N.Z. Rugby Union, who granted permission for the Maoris to play the curtain-raiser, provided the match entailed no expense to the N.Z. Rugby Union. The secretary of the Wellington Union had personally conducted a large number of Maori players from the curtainraiser to seats in the grandstand. Later, it was 1 found they had taken seats belonging to season-ticket holders, and had to be asked to return to their grandstand seats. There was, therefore, no ground for the remarks made by the Horowhenua District Rugby Council, it being clear the players were not refused admission. So far from being discourteous to the. players, the Wellington Rugby Union supplied them, with jerseys and a football with which to play the match. Mr Emmett, who was manager of the team, made a statement to the Horowhenua Rugby District Management Committee at its meeting last night, which was an. absolute refutation of the view out.ined by the Wellington Rugby Union. Mr Emmett stated that, during the progress of the curtain-raiser, he, with two emergencies, a member of the Maori Advisory Board and a Horowhenua referee had been granted a somewhat unwilling admittance to, the stand. Tana was injured, his place being taken by Tau, and when the.injured player went to take his seat in the stand, the secretary to the Wellington Rugby Union up'.,raided the gatekeeper for having .allowed Tana into the grandstand, further .instruc-. ting him that no other player was to be allowed on to the stand. After the match, when the Horowhenua team applied for' admission to the stand, they were told it was reserved for spectators only, and that the players would have to stand on the bank. Earlier in the day tickets had been given which entitled players to admittance on the ground, but not to the stand. . Mr Casey: Then the players in the grandstand were not Horowhenua men? z Mr Emmett: That is so. Mr Neilsen said to the gate-kcjper ‘ I tell you that no other players are to be permitted to. use the star.d ’ or words to that effect. , Mr Rimmer: I consider it would be advisable for us to forward a strong-ly-worded reply to the Wellington liugby Union in relation to its letter. They make a statement that the manager was admitted and, according to the newspaper report, eleven emergencies also. This has been broadcasted throughout New Zealand and is not a very, nice thing to ask us to stand. , . , Mr Hannan: We have interviewed most of the players, who say they were refused admission to the stand. I think they should all be asked to sign a statement, to that effect, Mr Winiata stated that nine players at least had given their word that such was the case. Mr Rimmer moved, and found a seconder in Mr Emmett, that a committee, comprising the chairman, secretary and Messrs Hannan and Emmett, be set up for tire purpose of drafting a reply to the Wellington Rugby Union. This was carried, it being decided also to secure the signatures of the players who could bear out the statements of Mr Emmett.

HOROWHENUA RUGBY COUNCIL. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. The Management Committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council met last evening, Mr ■(. J. O’Connor presiding'. Also present were Messrs J. Rimmer, W. Hannan, W. N. Anderson, H. G. McDonald, M. Winiata, S. Austin, W. Neville, B. Braun, F. Robinson, J. Robson. “MANAWHENUA.” The search for a title for the team representative of the Combined Ho.ro-wlienua-Manawatu Union has, up till' now been abortive. Both the Combined Council and the Horowhenua Management Committee have from time to time, taken strong exception to the appellation “Manawhenua,” each body maintaining that the term was misleading, in addition to the fact of its tending inwards outside clubs disassociating the title with either Horowhenua or Manawatu. At last night’s meeting the secretary (Mr J. Casey) made mention of

the confusion which had, of late, arisen in certain newspapers concerning matches played by the combined reps. Some called it the Horoj wheniia and others the Manawatu team. The matter of colours also was raised it being finally decided to pass the following resolution: That the attention- of the Combined Union be drawn to the fact that this Council is not being represented iby colours i or name in the Combined team. ! GENERAL. ! To date Levin D.IL School" are lead- , ing in the 4th grade competition, they having’ lß points, Shannon 15 , points, Foxton 9 points, . Foxton D.H. School 4 points.