COUNTRY FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18182, 19 September 1924, Page 11

COUNTRY FOOTBALL.

: TO the' editob of "the ; thess." Sir,—ln connexion with the. con-, trovcrsy centring around the proposed alterations iii the boundaries of; North 'Canterbury Eugby .Sub-Union,'. there are several points.which' require light. Through persistent applications .to play men from within- the • Sub-Union's boundaries, Rangiora Club, was ithe originator in 'the proposal to'incorporate that club in ■ Uid Sub-Union.- At -the commencement* o'f" 1*923 Rangiora made application to the Sub-Union to. bo allowed to play 15 men and sent a deputation to the Sub-Union. ..At the 'same '.time a prominent member, of the Bangiora Club . was attempting to entice members of the Cust Club to,play '.for the former village. Again; in 1924 Rangiora.Club made application to play five men from Sub-Uuion.territory. 'I presume it is because 'of its desire to play,meu from the whole of North Canterbury • district .that causes ','tho club, with headquarters in Rangiora, to call itself ' "North Canterbury " rather than agree to' the made in -1922, to take the name, of "Rangiora." i Prior, to the*- Sub.-Union conference on July 30th, the North Canterbury Sub-Union delegates^/had- a recommendation from ' the clubs to oppose any alteration'' in the northern boundary. It'does not. appear that the C.-r'.U. conducted this : matter ma very satisfactory, manner. : 'Why. did. the C.R.U. accept from the July 30th Sub-UnioD ' conference a doublebarrelled recommendation affecting country Sub-Union's and two clubs at .present, playing in' the. city .area. I dare to. suggest that the C.R.U. should •have taken its duties.as a parent, body more seriously and hayc. taken 'steps to prevent city chib3 ; having an. unfair voice in country footb*all. Of course it may be that-the C.R.U. caught,our delegates napping and oannivod.at the anomaly with a,.; view to killing, two j birds- with the . one stone. .Again, it seems incredible that .the-C.R.U. should not have- arranged for the city club delegates to be supplied with-full data concerning all Sub-Unious before allowing them to vote on a .question of boundaries.. Like Mr'Tyler, I make' no threat, but it, t would.-seem that the League code would do; with- a little scrutinising. A .tpi-rts -code must be pretty .good when it causes the C.R.U. to loose all sense of proportion between a .thriving' Sub-Union: and a village club with the niumps. At any rate, what has the C.R.U. done for country Rugby in tic'last few years? This letter is written quite independent of any Sub-Union or club of-"which I may bo an official. —Yours, etc., • "-H. P. McrVEE. Sefton, September 17th. •