A NEWS CABLE DENIED.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 9 July 1929, Page 13

A NEWS CABLE DENIED.

FOOTBALLER BITTEN.

RUGBY LEAGUE'S LIVELY

DISCUSSION

An attempt by Mr J. R- O'Shaughnessy to explain to tie executive of the Canterbury Rugby league that a news cable from Australia to the effect that a player named Justice had been bitten on tee hand in the inter-Stats League match. New South Wales v. Queensland, was untrue, was vehemently opposed, on points of order, by some of the members of the executive last evening. . Mr O'Siiaughnessy was presenting the report, of the publicity committee. '■Sjome tune recently," he was explaining, "a cablegram from Australia"You are cut of order," interjected the chairman. Mr L. Amos. "This is uot a report of the advertising committee.'' , . , . Mr O'Shaughuessy: I thmk it is-an advertising matter, and that comes within the. jurisdiction of our committee. , . . , "You are out of order,' insisted the chairman. "You have no vote on this executive. 5 '

"I know that. I am asking for permission to bring the matter before the meeting." ""Well, von have not got permission." was the chairman's rejoinder. 'I have ruled you out of order." "Oh, thanks" for telling me." said Mr o ; Shaughnessy, sitting down 'Mr F. Sheahan moved that Mr O'Shaughnessy be allowed to say what he wanted to. "I rise to a point o: crier," said the secretary, Mr S. M. Eichardson. "You are not dealing with Mr O'Shaughnessy's report now, you are questioning the chairman's ruling " The chairman said that if it was the wish of the meeting that the question of Mr O'Shaughnessy's being allowed to speak was to be debated, a new chairman wonld have to be elected. Mr L. Cox was then voted to the chair.

"Now, Mr O'Shaughnessy," prompted the new chairman. Mr O'Shaughnessy was about to speak, when Mr Richardson again rose to a point of order. He submitted that the meeting had only power at this juncture to decide whether or not Mr O'Shaughnessy was to be allowed to spoak. On the motion of Mr Sheahan, the meeting decided to go into committee, during which Mr Amos once more resumed J chairmanship. A motion that the executive resume in open meeting was carried.

On Mr Sheahan's motion, Mr O'Shaughnessy was then allowed to read his statement.

"In face of this rather alarming procedure," said Mr O'Shaughnessy, '' I must explain that there is no nigger in the wood-pile." He said that the cablegram in reference to the re~ nresentative League match between New South Wales and Queensland had stated that a New South Wales player had had his hand bitten by an opponent and- that the teeth-marks were plainly visible. That message, he said, ha'd been circulated all over New Zealand very much to the detriment of the League code. All sportsmen would naturally think that it was a rotten state of affairs. "The point is," he said, "that the sequel to this has not been told.; very few people will be aware of the contents of the cable message that I have here, dated from Brisbane, on Thursday. It states that Dr. Gray, who attended the injured man, Justice, states that there is not the slightest suggestion that the player had been bitten, and that Justice, himself, denied the statement. The allegation is a reflection on the Queenslanders, and on the code generally that ought to be removed." "In fairness to the newspapers, I must say that I saw an announcement to that effect in a paper this evening," said Mr Sheahan. Mr O'Shaughnessy: That appeared in the paper only because a certain person had it put m. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr O'Shaughnessy intimated' that he would tender his resignation from the advertising committee "It is solely on account of time, and not on account of any puerile breeze we may have had to-night," he said. After further discussion, Mr P. Cotton moved to the effect that the League ask Mr O'Shaughnessy to reconsider his decision. This he agreed to do.