MARISTS AND RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 94, 21 April 1924, Page 6

MARISTS AND RUGBY.

. * THE CHRISTCHURCH DISPUTE. FEELING IN AUCKLAND. An official expression of satisfaction with »nd loyalty-to the Rugby code, but of dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Canterbury Rugby Union had handled the incidents leading up to the disqualification of the Marist Brothers' Club in Christchurch, was expressed at a general meeting of the Auckland Marist Brothers' Rugby Club held yesterday at Vermont Street, Mr. JMahoney presiding. The Rev. Brother Borgia, director ef the Sacred Heart College, and Brother Fergus, strongly urged the club to remain adhei|_ts of the Rugby game for the sake of the boys who were connected with the schools here, and the general feeling of the meeting was obviously in that direction. After considerable discussion the following resolution was carried :— "(1) That this club records its satisfaction of the conditions of Rugby in Auckland, and has no intention of severing'its connection with the game. "(2) That this meeting is of opinion that the members of the Canterbury Rugby Union acted unwisely, (a), in precipitately suspending the club without fair trial and without fair investigation into the offences alleged to have been committed by that club, and (b), generally in the manner of dealing with the whole dispute, which manner this' meeting considers not according to the true spirit and traditions of the game. "'(3) That this meeting respectfully suggests that to prevent similar happenings in the future the New Zealand Rugby Union should consider the advisability of so amending its constitution as to enable a club suspended for any reason whatever to appeal to some arbitration body. "(4) That the N.Z.R.U. he asked if in its opinion the Canterbury Union was justified" in suspending without hearing and subsequently cancelling the affiliation of the Christchurch Marists' Club for its refusal to apologise for and withdraw the letter in dispute." The club's secretary was instructed to have the portion of" the resolution relating to the" New Zealand Rugby Union forwarded to that body through the local union.