FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 70, 20 October 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

(By "Pakeha.")

Delegates at the special meeting ol the Wellington llugby Union, held last week, to consider the few bylaws dratted by the Executive were ■unexpectedly entertained by Billy CoHey with a humorous recital ol the privilege honors meted out to certain individuals (whenever there was a local matoh of any exceptional im.portance taking p.'d"o at the Park. He instanced two members of .the New Zealand Rugby Union m . particular who were not only accorded reserved r-r.is m the Wellington Ru_by Union enclosure m the pavilion, but were, if. you please, ushered to their places before the : admiring throng of spectators by no less a, personage than J. T. King, a vicepresident of the Union. 'The' speaker said "it was nothing less than damned cheek to extend this privilege to men who had never done a hand's turn for the gaonc m Wellington, actively or otherwise. They were c.x view when something; interesting vra's happenms: at the Park. For his part he quite. failed to see why- they should be treated differently from ordinary patrons. This sort of thing had been goi:.,; on throughout the season and it was hifth time the practice was stopped. Our representative players were entitled to consideration before these gentlemen who liad only m recent years made Wellington their home. Mr O'Sullivan, a member of the management, corroborated Billy's assertions and delegates were evidently impressed with the necessity of checking the evil, as a new clause was inserted m the by-laws preventing any person or persons outside thp. Rugby Union officials and visiting teams and officials ..from having special privileges m the matter of ad^mission to the ground, seating accommodation, etc., without the permission of the Union. The clause was passed with only two dissentient voices. As it is now, George, or Alick, or Dick, as the case may be, will have to go * "bumming" else- : where for a special Park privilege.. ' 'Brassy . Wfci fee 's proposal to ha Ye an Appeal Board so that players or clubs coming under, the ban of dis--qualification, by f'he Wellington Rugby Union might have the opportunity of re-opeaing their case without resort to the N.Z. Rugby Union, was one which commended itself to delegates at last week's meeting of the Union. "We are quite capable of passing bylaws to govern ourselves without running to. the N.Z.R.U. for its united wisdom," said Brassy, ''and the '.ess we have to do with the N.Z.R.U. the better it will be for our own interests." Delegates chorused "hear, hear." with fervor to the sentiments expressed by Brassy. The Wells incident still sticks m the gizzard of delegates, hence their rooted antipathy to the. N.Z.R.U. sitting m judgment m similar cases. The Northern Rugby Union has introduced a number of amendments into the rules with the - object of brightening the game. The number of players has been reduced to 13, the "knock-on" rule has been made i more elastic, the "play the ball" rule has been re-introduced, and measures have been taken to ensure a compact scrum. It is reported that Ru??by football, restarted m Perth last year, has made a substantial advance this year and that the visit of p, lively team from, the east next year would give ffreat Impetus to the game. Mr Crombie, formerly of Wellington, is now hon, secretary of the Perth Rugby .Union. It is .understood that the New South Wales Union is considering the matter of sending a team across to the west next year.