THE SUSPENDED MAORI FOOTBALLERS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7382, 7 August 1889, Page 6

THE SUSPENDED MAORI FOOTBALLERS.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMB.] DUNEDIN, August 6. At a meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union this evening, it was resolved to send the following resolution to the Secretary of the Maori football team, also to Southland Union, which wired asking what steps the Otago Union intended taking re the statement in the papers here and elsewhere concerning four- men (Madigan, Keogh, Taare and Warbrick) suspended for shady practices in Brisbane, whichha9 never been contradicted:— "TheOtago Rugby Football Union declines to play, or sanction any match in which these men take part, until a public contradiction of that statement is made, and a most ample and satisfactory explanation of circumstances which gave rise to it is given." It is stated that the Hawke's Bay team contemplate playing the Maoris here on Wednesday week. INVERCARGILL, August 6. Following on the stand taken by the Otago Union with reference to the four members of the Native team implicated in a shady transaction In Brisbane, and its refusal to play against these until a satisfactory explanation of their continued presence in the team is given, a meeting of footballers is to be held to-morrow morning, to consider what action is to be taken here. Owing to the short notice i. is impossible to get a meeting of the Southland Rugby Football Union, so that the general body of players will have to decide. It is said that two members of the team will not play to-morrow if the four implicated are vetoed by their own people. If so, there will only be twelve to take the field. The majority of the Native team are stated to favor the expulsion of the offending four.