LEAGUE DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19851, 12 February 1930, Page 13

LEAGUE DISPUTE.

ANOTHER MEETING OP PLAYERS. S RESIGNATION OF OFFICIALS 1 DEMANDED. i A further meeting of players of the Canterbury Rugby Football League was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening, to discuss the present dispute in the League arising from the alleged failure of the Management Committee to comply with conditions laid down by the Trustees (Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, Messrs E. L. McKeon, and E. G. McCallough), and the subsequent request from meetings of players that the chair- . man, secretary, and treasurer (Messrs J K. Worrall, S. M. Richardson, and L. G. Amos) should retire from their positions. The outcome of the meeting is that tie president of the League will be asked to call a meeting of players to reconstitute the League, in the event of the three officers in question refusing to resign. A prominent player presided over an attendance, at the beginning of the meeting, of nineteen. The chairman immediately called the attention of the meeting to the fact that reporters were present. "I move that the reporters be allowed to remain," said Mr W. Rogers. There was no seconder to the motion, which consequently lapsed. Mr J. A. Lamberton then moved that the. Press be excluded from the meeting. The business, he said, was of a private and confidential nature, and no purpose would be served by publishing it _ Mr E. L. McKeon: If the representatives of the Press retire, can a considered statement be given them after the ■ meeting? I suggest that you include . this in your motion, Mr Lamberton. Mr Lamberton refused to accede to this request, and his motion was put to

the meeting, and carried unanimously. ' "I must ask the Pressmen to note that there are occasions when people other than Dr. Thacker are to blame r for their exclusion,'' remarked the Doctor as the reporters were withdrawing. Report to toe Press. At the conclusion of the meeting the following statement was handed to the reporters:— "A very largely attended meeting of players of the Canterbury Rugby 5 League was held in the Y.M.C.A. buildj ings last evening, at the invitation of the meeting, the three Trustees of Monica Park (Dr. H. T. J. Thacker and I Messrs E. G. McCullough, and E. L. L McKeon) attended. , "On behalf of the Trustees Mr Mc- , Keon explained fully the difficulties that had arisen with regard to the financial ' position of Monica Park, resulting in the bringing of a Supreme Court action 1 asking that they be relieved of their position as Trustees. A lengthy discussion took place, various players stressing the seriousness of the position and expressing their determination that the actions of the executive officials of the . Canterbury Rugby League should not be permitted to culminate in the loss of, Monica Park to the League Code. Strong exception was taken by various speakers to the manner in which Centre officials had handled the dispute leading up to the present unsatisfactory position of League affairs, and the view was expressed that nvery endeavour should be made to induce the Trustees to remain in office, it being recognised that the future welfare of the Code depended upon their continued interest, and the retention of Monica Park. "The following motion was then carried with one dissentient: 'That this, meeting of registered players of the Canterbury Rugby League, calls upon the president of the Canterbury Rugby League, in the event of the chairman, the secretary, and the treasurer of the said League'failing to comply with the demand for their resignations as expressed at meetings of playev3 on January 23rd and February 10tb, 1930, to call a general meeting of League players for the purpose of re-organising and le-eoastitutiag the said Canterbury

IBugby Football League, the throe Trustees of the League to be invited to attend { that meeting.' "