DISSENSION IN COMBINED UNION.

Shannon News, 26 August 1927, Page 4

DISSENSION IN COMBINED UNION.

HOROWHENUA MALCONTENTS THREATEN SECESSION. (Manawatu Daily Times). Now that the Ranfurly Shield dispute has been settled in one quarter, it would appear that there is dissatisfaction in the camp of the holders, as a meeting of the Horov/henua District Council this week decided to call a meeting of delegates of the clubs in Levin to consider the district's relations with the combined Unior, this in view of the fact that they considered they were not getting a fair share of rep games, by which it is taken to mean that they should have some of the Ranfurly Shield games played' at Levin. When the trouble was made knowr. in Palmerston North it came rather as a bombshell, although in certain circles it was not entirely unexpected. A perusal of the report of the meeting discloses that only a few of the members of the Horowhenua Council are dissatisfied, the actual players themselves being content to carry on under the present regime. They have every reason to be satisfied, because Hunt, Parata and Co. would never havo got into big football but for the fact that they weie brought to notice, through playing for Manawhenua against major unions. They woull never have been heard of otherwise, a 3 the big unions, such as Hawkes Bay, Taranski, Canterbury, etc., would not cor.sider a match with the Horowhenua Union, although they were prepared to negotiate wilh Manawatu. ADVANTAGE OF AMALGAMATION It will be recalled that when the amalgamation was brought into effect some two years ago the finances of the Horowhenua Union were at a very lowebb. To straighten them, games which weie owing to Manawatu from Southland, Otago, South Canterbuiy, Can-' terbury, Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki and Wanganui were all transferred to the combined Union, and Manawatu suffered fiaahcial loss in consequence. Manawatu wera then made dependent on Club games and games with minor unions for their funds, as having amalgamated, they were no longer classified as a separate major union. In the past Horowhenua have never separately sent a veam further north than Wanganui, neither have they made the journey across the Straits. Incidentally, the present trip is the first one on which the combined team have made a trip to Auckland. RANFURLY SHIELD GAMES. The N.Z.R.U. have intimated that the Ranfurly Shield is now held by Manawhenua and the question to be gone into by the combined Union is the allocation of matches. Before Manawhenua held the Shield, the games to be played during the season were allocated and no disgruntled remarks were heard from anyone, but now that the Shield has its home here, and there is a chance to make money for the coflers of the combined Union, petty objections are forthcoming from people who should have the welfare of the team more at heart. The stand at Levin holds somewhere about 200 people, while the stand at the Showground in Palmerston North holds about 3000, and the ground is sufficiently large enough to enable all the population of (he city to view the game to the decided advantage of the finance of the Union. The interest which is being created about the forthcoming games will bring such an influx of visitors into the district as has seldom been seen before, <uid they must have accommodation which they would not get in Levin even if they were to go there, which is exv?°mely doubtful. IN THE EVENT OP A BREAK.

In the event of a break in the relations, between Manawatu and Horowhenua, the latter would again become a minor Union, and the players with the exception of Jacob, would again fade into insignificance. The affairs would have to go to the N.Z.E.U., and it is possible that it would not take effect until the next annual meeting of the parent body, and in that case all the present petty grievances have' been for nothing. The reason for that is that were the players of the Horowhenua district advised not to play in the combined matches they would be disqualified by the New Zealand Union. A PECULIAR ATTITUDE. In any case, what is the matter with the Horowhenua delegates on the Union? They arc complaining about the voting, yet on many occasions the voting has beon mixed, Manawatu and Horowhenua delegates voting together on questions, and taking a ftand together against them. From' all the recent troubles, one would imagine that Lord Ranfurly Utile though; that this trophy would have such a baneful influence on New Zealand Rugby. ,