WAS A BAIT HELD OUT?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1089, 30 March 1911, Page 4

WAS A BAIT HELD OUT?

A RUGBY CHARGE. During a discussion at the.meeting of' the Wellington Rugby Union last evening a statement of somewhat grave intport was made by Mr.' If. Welch, a delegate of tlie Kia Ora Club. The statement was to th# effect that, two years previously, the Pouckc Club,' in order to secure the Services. 'of a senior player who had played .in' two' matches for the Kia Ora team- at tho Hmtt; offered to find him a job in Wellington. A'number'of'delegates challenged tho statement, but Mr. Welch silenced opposition with a, declaration that ho had 'seen tho' letter in which the Paneke Club mode tho offer he bad described. He added that the player mentioned accepted the offer, and. played in three matchos : 'for Poneke..' The'jtib,' however,' was not provided as promised, and lie went away to another district. Mr. Walsh, a Poneko. delegate, 6ugRested that the matter should be referred to tho Management 'Committee for investigation, but at this • stage nothing further was done.. .lust before the meeting closed Mr. Peters brought the matter up again. Mr. Welch, he said, had made a charge in reference to an offer which'' ho ,stated was made to a. player. Tho matter should bo clearod up, and it Should bo discovered whether the charge was correct .or not. Dr. Newman: That will come beforo the Management Committee. '■" Mr. Welch' said the matter ho had mentioned happened two years ago. It had nothing to do with the Management Committee at the present time. He did not think an. old matter of that kind should be raked up. He had mentioned it incidentally.' No motion was proposed, and the subject dropped,