SHUT OUT FROM RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 13

SHUT OUT FROM RUGBY

MARIST BROS. , SCHOOL,

SCHOOLS UNION IN CAMERA.

SOME DEVELOPMENTS,

Tho question of whether or not tho M'arist schoolboys, should bo admitted to tho Public Schools Rugby Union was further discussed at a meeting of tho Schools Union last evening Mr. R. Darropli presiding over a large gathering of delegates. At a previous meeting the union decided that it could not admit the Marist boys, and last evening another deputation from the Wellington Rugby Union was received.

Before commencing the business of tho evening, the question was raised as to to whether or not thn press should be present, and a motion to go into committee was moved.

Ono speaker remarked that the matter had already been given too much publicity.

Mr. Cowles stated emphatically that he was not ashamed of the reasons which he had for opposing the admission of any further teams. They (tho union) had sound reasons for not admitting certain players, and they were not responsible' to anybody but themselves as to whom they admitted. He thought that they would be doing themselves an injustice if they tried to hide their reasons and,.in his opinion, the meeting should certainly be open to tne press. Tho chairman said that he had been in favour of publicity, and ho hoped that the majority of the delegates would see that they had nothing to hide. Ho had written to the press on tho matter to bo discussed, and had told delegates that he was doing so. If ho liad any-thing-further to write about he. would write it, and it would bo over his name. If tho meeting went into committee he could tell them that anything which ho had to say ho would reservo for the press. Mr. Foster said that no discourtesy to the press.was intended by the motion. Ho supported it, not because he wished to hide anything, but because it would facilitate business.

Mr. M'Kenzio, who had moved the motion, said that ho had nothing to hide—any of his statements would bear daylight. Ho had moved his motion so that they could discuss the matter quietly am!, if anybody did make any rash statement, ib would bo "all right." (Laughter.)

The motion to go into committee was put, and declared carried on the vcices. On a division the voting was: For the motion, 9; against the motion, 6. Before thn reporteis retired Mr. Darroch handed a written statement to a representative of The Dominion totting out at length his reasons why the Marist School should be admitted to tho competition. Later, however, he asked that.the statement should not lo published. The. deputation from tho Wellington Rncjby Union was heard and, after it retired, tho following resolution was passed:—

That this Union '.annot admit any schools other than thoso under tho control of the Wellington Education Hoard. This was carried by 11 votes to 7. At this stege Mr. Dw.'och handed in his resignation, remarking that it was apparent that ho was out of harmony with the majority of tin- association, which advocated a no-admission policy, as against his open-door policy. Secondly a new position had arisen in the fact that the Headmasters' Association desired to take part in the government of tho union; • --.'i ■:

The meeting decided to ask Mr. Darroch to reconsider his decision, end ho decided to do so At the same time he could not give an answer at once.