A CRISIS IN RUGBY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1921, Page 5

A CRISIS IN RUGBY.

N.Z. MANAGEMENT OF THE GAME* MR. McLEOD THREATENS TO RESIGN " 1 CAVALIER TREATMENT By Telegraph Pre** Aasoeiatiou. Wellington, Last Night. Something approaching a crisis has. been reached in the control of Rugby, football through a threat of Mr. J. McLeod, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, to resign owing to not being appointed a delegate to the conference with South Africa and New South Wales on general conditions of the game.

Correspondence was tabled At tonight’s meeting of the management committee. The chairman (Mr. Slade) wrote to Mr. McLeod offering him the presidency of the conference witiusnt the right to participate in the deliberations.

Mr. McLeod replied saying that he would resign if the decision was not reversed.

Mr. Slade replied that the president had a misconception of his duties, adding that the delegates would be Messrs. Slade, Lowe and Frost, the last-named' being elected as the spokesman on th® Auckland proposal to amend the rules. Mr. McLeod, in a lengthy reply, de--nied the suggestion of interfering with* the management, quoting his experience: and international representation of thes game as qualifying him to have a seat as delegate. The Canterbury and Auckland un®z»' wrote supporting Mr. McLeod. Mr. Slade said he had offered withdraw from the conference in favor* of Mr. McLeod. That did not suit the; latter, whose trouble was he had not; been nominated.

The discussion was favorable to tho/ action of the management committee/ and it was decided to Mr. McLeod’s letter.

The proposed international conference will discuss the rules and laws of Rugby, and particularly the rule under. which Auckland is playing relating to kicking into touch, and which, it is ac- ; knowledged in the north, has saved football in the Auckland province from going over to the League code. Though I Mr. McLeod has been occupying th® I position of president of the New Zea-* ! land Rugby Union for two years, and ! practically directed its policy and kept, the machine from cracking to pieces, the* management committee, who reside inn Wellington, have ignored him when then idelegation was appointed to confer with the representatives of the other DoTninions. Mr. McLeod has devoted aij ; great deal of time to the government of* . New Zealand football in that period, and’ I particularly since the arrival of the* Springboks, chiefly because of the inca-i I paeity and mismanagement shown by i the management committee. But for hi® I good offices a very serious situatiM*i would have developed at one stage of I lhe tour. The thanks he receives is ai series of snubs from the men who are in control of New Zeeland football to-day, men who have all along muddled things and given the visitors cause for seriouat complaint at the treatment accorded them on different occasions. Courtesy, alone, should have demanded the selection of the head of the New Zaalandi'

Union, apart from Mr. McLeod’ inttmate knowledge pf all that pertains tof fßugby football and his special ability, to put the case from the New Zealand* viewpoint. v