FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8126, 5 June 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

PKB PBEBS ASSOCIATION Wellington, June 1 The Wellington footballers to:day defeated Wairarapa by 62 points to 9. Wellington's s»,ore co aprised 13 tries, 10 conversions and a penalty goal. H. C. Thomson got 3 trie, Gardiner, Roberts, Wallace, and Eamsden 2 each. Wallace kicked four goals, Sponcor four and Eoberts three. Wairarapa got one try and two penalty goals.

FOOTBALLERS' MIS. BEHAVIOUI

SIX MONTHS SUSPENSION,

A'special meetin; of iho -Taranaki Rugby Union wa; hell on Monday 'evening to enqure iat> the recent alleged misconduct on a train when the Tnkapa seniors were returning to W Plymouth from Stratford, There were present Messrs T. Buchanan (chairman), H. A. Wilson, Shields, A, Humphrhs, and P, Skoglund (secretary). Mr A. Lee, of New Plymouth, wrote that he saw the disturbance, and gave particulars of misconduct. In answer to questions Mr Lee 'Said he was sure that Smith abused the guard. He had noF'been anxious to give evidence. Smith did not attempt to fight Inch, fie considered that too much had been made of the incident.

Mr Staples corroborated the statements made in his letter that there was strong language in the carriage, and that Inch challenged Smith to fight. Mr Arthur Beals, guard's assistant on the train on 3rd May, put in a dec'aratitn th t he had seen no misconduct. He had been through the car twice on that journey between Stratford and New Plymouth. There was a fair amount of jollification, but nothing mt of the ordinary conduct of returning football teams. Smith danced a hakaas the train left Inglewood. Mr Alfred Higgs wrote that he had seen no misconduct, Smith amusing the occupants with songs and innocent amusement. He was in the. carriage from Tariki to Sentry Hill, and saw the haka. He iiad not noticed any interference with the luggage. In the hotel dining-room there was no misconduct. Smith made no effort to fight Inch.

Mr P. Bowers, referee in the Tukapa Stratford match that day, and who returned to New- Plymouth with the team, said he saw a scuffle between Inch and some other passengers. Saw Inch and Smith scuffling. He saw the electric light bulb removed, but thought they were taken off one at a time. He saw no luggage handled, and heard no bad language. No hat was kicked off. ■' A man would have to be an octopus to do it in such a crowd." T. Smith said he had little to add to lis previous evidence. He was sure 4ie had not used the bad languags alleged, and had not wanted to light Inch " who would have had no show " with him. He considered the evidence biased. He admitted that ho had made a "row," but only a good-humoured one.'

Mr A. B Standish, manager of the team, f;;ivc evidence. Mr t-'kogtund moved that Smith be disqualified for twelve months. It was a first offence, and his conduct had apparently been good in the past. Mr Standish, questioned by the chairman, said that the Tukapa committee had been under the impression chat Mr Lawless had singled out a man " with blue and white colours " as having made a disturbance at the hotel. He had not heard Glynes (■' Waiuku ") mentioned as being concerned in the hotel trouble.

After a long discussion it was decided that Smith be suspended for six months, Mr Humphries refraining from voting, as his club (Star) was interested. A resolution was passed " That the action taken by the Tukapa Club in connection with the enquiry into the alleged disturbance in the train, and in the hotel on 3rd May, and the non-at-tendance of certain of their members at this meeting when requested, meets with the disapproval of the Union." Glynes will be asked to attend the next meeting of the Management Committee at Stratford to explain his connection .with the Stratford hotel [disturbance!