Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

RUGBY CONTROL

RESIGNATION 0E PRESIDENT. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE’S REPLY. MR. J. MeLEOD’S POSITION. Something approaching a crisis in the control of the Rugby game in New Zealand has been reached, as a result of the decision of the management committee not to select the president of the union (Mr. J. McLeod) to take part as a delegate to the conference with the South African and New South Wales Rugby unions’ delegates. Mr. McLeod telegraphed to Mr. G. W. Slade, chairman of the management committee, as follows:—“Cannot accept your offer, and propose resigning presidency immediately unless decision altered. Am advising principal unions , by wire.” “MISCONCEPTION OF DUTIES.” The chairman of the management committee sent the following reply: “Your telegram, was considered by my committee last evening, when I was directed to reply, expressing the regret of my committee, not only to the tone of your telegram, but also for the action contemplated by you, and mentioned therein. “My committee feels that you must be under some misconception as to the duties pertaining to the office of the president of this union, and I am therefore directed to explain that my committee, in appointing Messrs. Slade, Frost and Bowe to meet representatives of the New South Wales and South African unions in conference, was influenced by tbe fact that the gentlemen named had been appointed to journey to Sydney for a similar purpose last year, and naturally should therefore be more conversant with the issues in question than anyone else. Moreover, the functions and the respon- 1 sibility of such a conference lie with my committee and the executive of this union, and not the president. Out of courtesy to the Auckland Rugby Union, as the prime movers for the changes proposed to be brought into effect, that union’s delegate (Mr. Frost) was included among the representatives last year and again this year; notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Frost was not on the executive of my union, my committee see no good reason for going further than this, and. as the responsible executive of the union at least the preponderance of representation should be actual members of the committee.

‘“Hitherto, the presidency of this union has been considered an honorable position, and the president has never attempted to dictate, or even to lead, in executive matters, the responsibility for which is clharly cast on the committee by the rules of the union. My committee trusts that you will give this matter more earnest consideration, and that you will recognise that the course proposed by you. if persisted in. can only lead to unpleasantness and will belittle the honorable position of president.” Letters were received from the Auckland and Canterbury Unions supporting Mr. McLeod’s candidature.

PRESIDENT’S REPLY. “AN UNJUST INSINUATION.” A very lengthy reply was received from Mr. McLeod. The fact that his resignation had not actually been sent in was due to the pressure from other unions to retain his position. He disclaimed any misconception of his duties, and the committee had, he said, no ground for saying so. “I have not on one single occasion interfered or obtruded rayself in any matter of management, or of the function of the committee.... The insinuation is unjust, and I resent it. I differ entirely from your view that it is not the president’s function to give, a lead, and to use what influence lie might possess in advancing his views to the committee on either executive or policy matters. It matters not to me that the activities of past presidents, as you infer, may have been passive. My association in our game is active, and I am only expressing a fact when I say I am more closely in touch continuously with the majority of the executives of the unions of New Zealand than any other individual; and to my mind that is not other than it should be, as it enables an official who is not entraramelled by the detail and responsibility of office and management to exercise an influence with the many unions (if that influence is tactfully exerted) that is of far more help to the management committee, with its manifold worries, than the management committee appears to realise.... My responsibility to account for any shortcomings or errors of commission is to the council of the N.Z.R.F.U., and not to the management committee.” Continuing, Mr. McLeod said he did not admit that the delegates to the Sydney conference were more conversant with the issues at stake. He should have been appointed to it. He detailed the -occasions on which he represented New Zealand Rugby in conference. “It was merely through the action of your president in taking an active interest in the game.” r “I have no personal feeling in this matter,” said Mr. McLeod, in conclusion. “Your management committee has failed in its appreciation of the service I could have rendered New Zea- ' land at this conference, and. in saying so, I know I have behind me the ; confidence of the great majority of the unions of New Zealand, ano I would have felt myself weak-kneed in- ' deed had I not immediately registered my opinion. Sor far as I am concerned, therefore, the incident is for the time being closed, and, as I have said, there I is no feeling behind the protest. I | shall consider what action T shall take . after talking the matter over with you ( next week in Wellington. Meantime, it J is better that differences be forgotten during the next few days, so that we may all concentrate our efforts on the encouragement of our team to Herculean accomplishment and the winning of the world’s Rugby supremacy on the 17th.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19210917.2.13

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
944

RUGBY CONTROL Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 3

RUGBY CONTROL Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 3

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert