RUGBY PARK CARETAKER.

Southland Times, Issue 21091, 24 May 1930, Page 11

RUGBY PARK CARETAKER.

To the Editor. Sir, —'The sporting public of Southland, more particularly “Football Fans,” have taken more than ordinary interest in the appointment of the new groundsman and caretaker for Rugby Park. It is too late to discuss or criticize the action of the committee in dispensing with the services of the present caretaker, but it is certain from the great improvement that has been made in the appearance of the Park during his office that he was immeasurably the best custodian that the union have secured up-to-date. For reasons, unexplained, the present caretaker has been dispensed with, and from what-can be gathered there were a large number of applicants for his position, and as is usual in a case like this the final choice was restricted to five applicants. Now, sir, one of these applicants was a Rugby player, under the S.R.F.U. for many years and represented his club and the province with distinction; in fact his rather early retirement from the game was because of broken bones sustained from playing for the province on tour. , This man’s ability to do the necessary work on the park is undoubted as he is a practical farmer, road contractor, excavator and gardener, and his moral character is above reproach. Neither the successful applicant nor the other three finalists had ever worn a Maroon jersey, or distinguished themselves in any class of football, although'there is no reason to doubt they had qualifications for the position applied for, and it is not questioned that Mr Kidd should not prove himself to be a real good man for the position, which he has secured in fair competition, as far as he himself is concerned, but I maintain and hundreds of others also will agree with me that all things being equal the player should have the preference. The present committee of the S.R.F.U. would be advised to remember that they are only the servants of the clubs, and it would be advisable for them to consider in cases like this men who have helped the game,, along by devoting the best of their youth’ and vigour as players of the “Grand old game.” Surely when a position of this kind becomes vacant the' men who played the game and helped to make the park should have the gratitude of the executive and first chance of employment in the interests of the game they fostered, and if they had done so in this case, they would only have carried out their own precedent in their quite just appointment in the only other paid position under their jurisdiction.—l am, etc., ' FIAT JUSTITIA RUAT CAELUM.