RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 26 July 1929, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL The Management Committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council was held on Tuesday, in the Wistaria rooms, htre being present:—Messrs W. Cl Hannan (president), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), F. Meyers (Waikanae), W. S. Heyes (Foxton), S. Hooper (Weraroa), W. G. McLean (Paraparaumu). F. Robinson (Foxton), J. W. Rimmer (treasurer),. G. Mitchell (Shannon), J. McGill (Otaki), J. Casey (secretary), M.‘ Winiata (senior selector), and H. G. B. McDonald (Schools). Leave of absence was granted to Mr A. >Richards (Shannon), owing to sickness.

WANDERERS JUNIORS ‘INSUFFICIENTLY CLAD/ ;

Mr S. Hirini, secretary of the Foxton club, wrote stating that, at a meeting of his committee on Monday evening, a complaint was made with regard to the way in which some of the Wanderers juniors were dressed for -their match against Foxton last Saturday. One or two were minus boots and stockings, while several were even playing in singlets. If this state of affairs was going to be allowed to exist, he could assure the management committee, that it was going to prove detrimental >to the District Council as far as the gate was concerned. His Committee could not understand how such a well-known club as the Wanderers could allow a team to go on the field •so dressed, and trusted that in future the management committee would endeavour to prevent a recurrence. The Chairman said he did not think that the Council could compel players to wear boots and stockings, but it could compel them to wear jerseys. It was the duty of the referee to report to the Council as to players being wrongly dressed. ‘ Mr Heyes described the unenviable experiences of Mr Robinson and himself in being accosted by ppople in'the streets of Foxton and asked why the Wanderers juniors had taken the field in such nondescript attire. He was informed that only eight of the fifteen members of the visiting team had been 'correctly clothed. ' The Chairman: There is nothing to stop you gentlemen from moving to have a report from the referee. If Wanderers are guilty, you can fine them for whatever jerseys they were short of.

Mr Heyes: If Wanderers juniors come again, they will get no gate, because people will not turn out to see that sort of thing. The Chairman: The report must tome from the referee.

It was resolved, on the motion of

the Chairman, seconded by Mr Procter, —'that the Referees’ Association .be informed that it had come to the notice of .the Council that some of the Wanderers juniors were wrongly attired in their match against Foxton, and that the association ask the referee ,to furnish a report on the matter, also as to wdiether the referee himself was improperly dressed, ■ it having been alleged that when he blew the whistle to start the game he was buttoned up in an overcoat. ABSENCE OF REFEREES. Mr Hooper mentioned that, in the match between the Weraroa and Shannon juniors, at Levin on Saturday, the referee did not'turn up, and the. duties had to be undertaken bv the coach of the Shannon team.

It was decided that the matter, having been reported to the Chairman, be referred to the Referees’ Association, with a request to obtain an explanation.

Mr Meyers stated that, in the junior match against W'aikanae at Paraparaumu on July 6th, the referee die 1 not arrive, and he had to conti'iol the game himself. This complaint was also referred to the Referees’ Association for investigation and report.

PROCEDURE REGARDING COMPLAINTS.

Mr Meyers asked -tor a ruling as to the powers of individual members of the management committee to report on any improper practices, so that the committee could deal with them. If such powers were not in existence, he suggested that the by-laws! might be altered in that direction, and he asked whether such an alteration would be a matter for the committee or for a general meeting.

The Chairman said he was not in favour of delegating the powers, as suggested, to members of the committee. He based his attitude on the laws of football. The referee had sole control of the game, and also had sole control of the players. Mr Procter said that, up till the present year, the management committee had dealt directly with breaches coming to its knowledge. The Chairman replied that he was prepared to abide by Iris rulings at the risk of vacating the chair if they did not ; meet with the approval of the majority of the members. Mr Heves said he was quite agreeable to abide by the Chairman’s ruling, but the point was that it did not appear right that the Chairman should have to give such, a ruling. There should be a clause giving the Council power to bring up any matter. Mr Meyers: We maintain that the by-law is wrong, not your ruling. The Chairman: You have been ques-

tioning the laws of football. I am giving my ruling under the rules of Rugby, and uiider those rules the referee has sole control of the players on the field. GENERAL SUSPENSIONS.

The following isuspensions imposed by the Unions concerned, and confirmed by the N.Z. Rugby Union, and therefore made general were notified to the committee by the Manawhenua Union:—T. Raureta, Hawke’s Bay, for three years from June 22nd, for striking a referee; W. Tatterson, Ashburton, for the rest of tire season, for using foul language; M. McDonald, Marlborough, for one month from July Ist, for abusive language towards a member of his Uniou. A. P. Cherrington had been susnended by the North Auckland Rugby Union for five years from August 17th, 1928, for deliberately jumping on a player. The sentence had ■ confirmed by the New Zealand Union and made general.

FOXTON-WANDEBERS DISPUTED

MATCH,

The Foxton club having appealed to the Manawhenua Union against the Council’s rescission of the resolution granting a re-play of the senior , match against Wanderers which took place on June Bth at Levin, the Union wrote stating thht the appeal had been considered and it had been decided to obtain a report from this Council before •coming to a conclusion. The Chairman, moved and Mr Hooper seconded, that the secretary and Mr •Procter (who had acted as chairrSan pf the meeting which sanctioned a replay) forward a report on the matter to the Manawhenua Union.

Mr Robinson: When there was a notice to rescind the motion, should not the Foxton club have* been notified 4o that effect? The Chairman: I don’t think so.

Mr Robinson: I got a, ruling from a lawyer, and he said that the Foxton secretary should be notified. How otherwise would they know? The Chairman: If you had put in 'an appeal, it would have been communicated to them.

- Mr Heyes pointed out that the position now was that with that game thrown in, Wanderers and Foxton were on equal terms and they had to play off for the championship. Foxton did not want to win the competition on the appeal, but would rather win it straight out, as they thought they were going to do. He asked if another game could be played between the two teams before the appeal was decided.

The Chairman: I think so; there is nothing t,o» say you cannot play it. Mr Robinson: I don’t think the appeal will have much chance of success at the Union, because Mr Hannan gave

it a fair deal there, and I explained it also, and it was thought by two members that, as Foxton did not have their appeal in in time, they had not a hope. No more can come out of the report than Mr Hannan and I stated.

The Chairman remarked that the Union did not look on the verbal statement of the ease as being in order, and required' a written report from the Council.

Mr Heyes moved as an amendment, that the Foxton appeal be withdrawn, provided that the club could recover their deposit. The Chairman: You can get your deposit back.

There was no seconder for the amend ment, and the motion was carried.

PRINCE OF WALES CUP.

The Manawhenua Union reported that the question of a grant towards the - expenses of assembling the Taih.au.auru Maori team to play against the Takerau team in the Prince of Wales Cup contest at Auckland on July 31st, had been considered, and it had been decided to donate £lO, a cheque for ■which was forwarded to this committee, to be handed to Mr H. McMillan, the local delegate to the Maori Advisory Board. JUNIOR REP. MATCHES. Advice was received from the Manawatu District Council that August 14th would be a date suitable to that body for the playing of the junior rep. game between Manawatu and Horowlienua, jat Palmerston North. • The Manawhenua juniors would play Wanganui on /iVgust 24th, at Wanganui, and would play Wellington on August 31st at Levin

. The date of August 14th was apsrr i ed. The secretary stated that the junior trial match of Horowlienua, North v. South, would take place on August ilOih, at Levin. Mr McDonald stated that the Wellington and lloroAvhenua school reps, tyvould probably meet on the same date (at 1 p.ni., thus providing a “curtaintraiser. ”

The Wellington Rugby Union wrote agreeing to the proposal that their thirds should play Horowhenua juniors at Otaki, but stating that the suggested dates, July 27th or August- 3rd, were not suitable, as these would seriously interfere with their competitions, and they did not think that they could send a team before the end of August at the very earliest.

The Chairman stated that the Wellington thirds only wished to play those of the Horowlienua juniors who were not required for the Manawhenua team, and he thought that August 24th might be a suitable date. It was decided to submit to the Wel-

lington Union the date suggested by the Chairman.

RANGITIKEI GAMES OFF.

Intimation was received from the Rangitikei Union that they could not accept July 24th for a match against Horowhenua, as they would be unable to return the match before August 17th. They thanked this Council for its offer to send a team to play at Marten. The secretary reported that he had been in communication with Rangitikei by telephone and had ascertained that they had too many rep. games this year. He therefore thought that the "proposed match would have to be allowed to lapse.

The committee concurred in this view.

BE3BINGTON SHIELD CONDITIONS

The Chairman reported that he had ‘attended a conference with reference to the conditions of the Bebbington Sheld, On Saturday. The- rules were not altered, except to provide that the holders should not be compelled to ac- * cept a challenge for a game to be played after the second week in August, this being at theii discretion; It was decided that an official book of record be kept with the shield, and Mr Glass was going to sojid a leather one. With regard to the miniature shields, it was agreed that the winners of a challenge should have their win thus recorded on the trophy; this did not entitle the defenders to do the same in the event of their retaining the shield. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. Mr Procter moved that the final for the senior championship, between Wanderers and Foxton, be played on Sat •urday, at Levin, and that the charge for admission be Is each for ladies or gentlemen and (id extra to the grandstand.

Mr McGill seconded the motion. Mr Mitchell moved as an amendment, that the match be played at Shannon, “on a neutral ground.” There was no seconder.

Mr Heyes said that, personally, he would like to see the game played in Foxton. The Chairman: I think there is a minute in the book with reference to the playing of finals in Levin, but probably that only applies to the year in which it was recorded.

Mr Winiata put in a strong plea for the holding of the contest in Levin, Which he described as the centre of the district’s football. This season no important matches had been played at Levin; the rep. matches had been played at Shannon, Otaki and Foxton. Now it was only fair that this final should take place at Levin. Mr Winiata added that there was no stand to provide shelter in the event of wet weather at Foxton or Shannon* whereas at Levin

something tike three hundred people could be provided for in this respect. If the match were played at Levin, the attendance would be as good as they would get for a rep. game. A further amendment was moved by Mr Robinson —namely, that the: match be plavpd at Foxton. This was seconded by Mr Heyes.

Mr McGill said be ; would' like to sec the game played at Otaki, but (lele gates should vote for the ground where the best gate would be realised; and if Levin was going to show the best profit, then the game should be played there.

The amendment in favour of Foxton was lost, only the two- Foxton. dele gates voting for it, and the motion ti play in Levin was carried. Mr Robinson: The Foxton club ha; travelled several tiines to differen matches, and I think we should go some help. It is a big thing to as! a team to travel three times running

■The Chairman: We would be laying down a precedent. What about som of those supporters of yours over there

COMING EVENTS,

Entries of senior teams in the Nas! Cup competition were received. frot the Shannon, Otaki, Hui Mai, War derers and Foxton clubs. The firs round, to be played on - August 3rc was drawn as follows: —Otaki v. Hi Mai, at Otaki; Wanderers v, Skannoi at Levin; Foxton a bye. The secon round ivill be played On August lOtl but at Levin the fixture ivill be th junior trial match, North v. South.

Mr T. Watson, of Shannon, was aj pointed -selector of the Manawhenu junior, team. Before the meeting concluded, M McDonald who is leaving at the,, en of the month to become first assistai master at the South Wellington Sehoo tendered his resignation and tlianke the committee for its assistance to tl Horowhenua Primary Schools Rugt competition fund. He also thankc the Chairman (Mr Hannan) for tl very generous way in which he had m the speaker’s requests on behalf school football* Mr McDonald annbun ed that Mr 11. J. Jones would be h successor as schools delegate to tl Council.