"TURNED DOWN COLD"

MR. B. I. SWANNELL DISGUSTED. Mr. B. I, Swannell, the brilliant international Rugby Union forward of a tew years .back, ie disgusted with the Now South Wales Rugby Union. He cays he has beon turned down cold by its officials over the recent match with Queensland. The names of three referees — Messrs. Pauling, Butt, and Harding*— wore submitted to the visiting Queensland team when it arrived. Mr. Swannell (says th« Sun) has refereod international, State, and First Grade matches in Australia, and many people thought his nnm© should have baen included, Tho Queonslanders evidently thought so too, for their manager (Mr. Byrne), to whom the selection of 'the umpire wae loft, asked specially for Mr. Swannell to referoo yesterday's match, and hie request wns aeeeeded to. , "I referred it more out of, epite than anything el6e; although, mind you. I wanted to please the people who had placed such confidence in mo,)' eaid Mr. Swannell. "But now I am tired of the Rugby Union— l am disgusted. They turnod me down cold, and it was left for Queensland to show thorn what they should have done. Surely; I was entitled to t have my namo submitted. , After I finished > playing football, at a timo when my military work tnado it compulsory, I devoted what timo I had at my disposal to the union. I refcrood in 1918-13-14, and had some of the big games., I was secretary to the Metropolitan Union at a timo when funds woro needed, and I tosignod to eavo sxpenee, but continued in an honorary position. Tho union shows no loyalty to old players. It eimply lota tlfom come and go. Why, in England ati international is always (nought of. Evott 20 years after ho has represented ho receives invitations to all matches. I am through with the. Now South Wales Union. I am .heartily sick of it." Mr. Swannell has been connected with football for 20 years. Ho ( wa« perhaps the most brilliant forward in the world in his day, Ho has played for Groat Bri» tain, England, Australia, and Now South Wales, and .calm here with Bodell-Siv-right's English team. Ho played right through tho tour, and decided to settle in New South Wales. He first plriyod la big football in 1894.