RUGBY RULES

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 27, 31 January 1919, Page 4

RUGBY RULES

A QUESTION OF SEVERANCE

AUCKLAND UNION PROPOSALS

CONSIDERATION POSTPONED,

Discussion, waxed rather -warm at times at the special meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, held at the Chamber of Commerce last night, to consider propos-als for the alteration of the rules of the union and the laws of the game. Mr. H. Harris (president) was in the chair. The alterations proposed to the laws of the game have already been set out fully in The Post. These did not come up for discussion, as the meeting considered only the motion to amend rule 2, which reads as follows : — It (the New Zealand Rugby Union) shall affiliate with the English Ragby Football Union, and shall adopt the laws of football and the rules as to professionalism as from time to time fixed by that body. The motion, proposed by Mr. Ohlaop (Auckland) was as follows :—

"That the words .'as from time to time fixed by that bock' be deleted, and the following substituted in lieu thereof: 'bat may make such modifications as may be deemed desirable

in the interests of the game.' ''

In the discussion and voting on the motion and amendments it was shown that the voting strength favoured1 the motion, but eventually, on the plea, that tlie meeting had the appearance of being unrepresentative, an adjournment till May was agreed to. In the meantime ihe English Union is to be communicated with for advice as to whether the adoption of alterations will mean severance.

SEVERANCE NOT 'WANTED.

In speaking to the motion, Mr. Ohlson said they did not want to break their connection with the English Rugby Union, but they thought that, taking a leading pkft in the game as they did, the time had come when they should ha ye some say in legislation. And he did not think England would object to this. If they adhered to the fundamentals of the amateur game there could be no reasonable objection. There should be a conference of representatives of countries playing Rugby—England, France, America, and the Dominions. Such a conference would bring about a settlement of questions much better than correspondence.

Mr. B. Isaacs (Southland) seconded the motion. The last New Zealand team that visited Australia had innovations to contend with. Here they were trying to do the thing in a constitutional way. There was no doubt that the game required brightening up in some way. The rules of the game were made for the time when Rugby was played by public schools and universities, and they played the game in the proper spirit. Now any honest man must admit that there was not exactly the same spirit, and they bad to make alterations to the rules accordingly.

POSTPONEMENT ADVOCATED.

Mr. PowDall; (Wanganui) moved an amendment, to postpone consideration of the proposals nnfcil the next annual meeting, and in the meantime to obtain the views of unions as to an international Rugby conference. He stated the opinion emphatically that the motion meant cutting the New Zealand branch .from the present trae. . Mr. Spriggins fWangamii) seconded the amendment.

The President, in reply to a question, said he could not see that the motion would mean severance from the Euglilsh Union.

TO AVOID ISOLATION.

Mr. E. Wylie gave notice of a further amendment affirming loyalty to the English Union and adherence to the. game as played' by England, but urging that the time was ripe when some alteration should be made, and suggesting alterations. At present, rightly or wrongly, there appeared to be a call through New Zealand for some alteration. Whether that would be so when the soldiers returned remained to be seen. At the Front the Rugby gam© was the one played almost wholly, and that by men who had played the Northern. Union game Mr. George H. Dixon (Taranaki) said that some of the amendments proposed affected the fundamental rules ■of the game. Ho was firmly of opinion that the adoption of the motion meant severance from the English Union. They could not have the right to make their own rules and at the same time remain an integral part of the parent body. The breach would be ever-widening, for how could an English team come here and p!ay, under modified rules without being at a disadvantage ? He was sorry that this matter had been brought up at all at this time when the cream of our footbailers and of the football legislators in the smaller unions were away. If the motion were carried it would be by what in normal times would be a minority vote. Was that fair to players at the Front? Five big centres could carry any motion, because the smaller unions had not their normal representation. Mr. Pownall withdraw his amendment in favour of'that of which Mr. Wylie had given notice, on condition that there were an addition to the latter to .provide for an international conference.

ANOTHER WAY SUGGESTED.

Mr. Wylie moved his amendment as follows :—"That several of the unions affiliated to the New - Zealand Rugby Football Union having already tested the following variations of the rules of Rugby, and being of opinion that such variations tend to the improvement of the game, that this meeting urges upon the English. Rugby Union tho desirability of testing the variations and adapting and bringing the same into force. That this meeting, whilst against the principle of any departure from the rules of Rugby as from lime to time adopted by the English Rugby Union, is firmly of opinion that the time is ripe for some amendment of the laws of the game on the lines suggested (then each amendment to be considered separately). And, further, that this meeting urges upon the English Rugby Union the desirability of calling a meeting representative of all bodies playing PtUgby football throughout the world with a view to the discussion of the Rugby laws and suggestions for amendment for the purpose of formulating a code of lawa agreeable to the whole Rugby world and a body constituted representative of all countries which play the Rugby game." He agreed that New Zealand should endeavour to obtain better representation in the English Union. There must, however, be some control to prevent alterations being made in the game from season to season. Colonel G. F. C. Campbell said he was confident that a progressive alteration of the laws of the game without reference to England would lead to-the isolation of New Zealand in the future. H» heard to-night for the first time that Now Zealand was regarded as a club by tho English Union. He thought the Dominion representation should he im--

proved. Mr. Dixon Weld that New Zealand' Had a\ different, status from.' a club.

OPENING THE DOOE

Mr. Or. 0. Fache (Otago) said his personal opinion diit'ered from that of tho .union-lie ifinteacated. rJjba motion meact

that New Zealand took the power to alter its rules without asking the consent of the English Union. After the game had been tested for years' and proved efficacious they proposed to alter it, and all the alterations went in the direction of making the game simpler. The alteration in the rule proposed would leave the road open for such a proposal as was made . almost ten years ago for payment of players. That proposal was then only blocked by this rule. Mr. O'Sullivan (Marlborough) protested against hurried legislation when many of the smaller unions had had no opportunity of expressing an opinion. Mr. Frost (Auckland) wished to controvert the suggestion that Auckland had come down with proposals to adopt Northern Union rules or favouring severance from England. Dr. M'Evedy (Wellington) emphasised that differences in codes meant virtual isolation. He saw no need for such haste as was now proposed. It amounted to taking a. catch vote. If they had to make laws to keep the game dean the sooner they stopped playing football the better.

In reply to questions as to whether the adoption of this motion would mean severance, Colonel Campbell quoted the bylaws of the English Union that only clubs conforming to the rules were eligible for membership, and that no rule could be altered except by a two-thirds vote at a general meeting. Mr.- Wylie said that in framing bis amendment he had desired to open the way for its acceptance by the supporters of the motion. As these had their hands tied he now desired to alter the amendment, so that instead of the meeting favouring alteration* it simply stated that ssveral unions had tested the alterations. He also struck out of the amendment the expression of opinion that thfc time was ripe for alterations; Permission was given to make this alteration.

Mr. Ohlson, replying to the debate, denied that any catch vote was being taken. Auckland's desire, he said, was to- see alterations which had been tried and favoured' in Auckland tested in other centres, so that a general meeting would be in a position to express an opinion as to which should be sent to England for approval. The President stated that if the motion were carried any alterations adopted would come into force this season.

The amendment was lost by 21 votes to 15.

Dr. M'Evedy then, moved a. farther amendment: "That in the opinion of this meeting the time i» not ripe for consideration of any alteration in the rules of the union or the. laws of the game; and that further discussion be postponed until the various nnions are in a. position to be fully represented and football opinion now abroad is represented."

Mr. Wylie suggested that Dr. M'Evedy should add that the meeting be adjourned until May. Many of the delegates had come here with their hands tied, and it was not right that this alteration'should be made under such conditions.

POSTPONEMENT CARRIED

The President suggested that Auckland and other centra* favouring the motion should consider whether they could accept a postponement till there was better representation. Mr. Ohlson asked if there could not .be something in the motion to permit trnions to test the alterations in the meantime.

Mr. Dixoni said that the position: was that five unions' were dominating the twenty in the New Zealand Union. Rather than allow such a position he would be inclined to walk out of the meeting in disgust. In reply to a question by the President, Dr. M'Evedy said! the New Zealand Management Committee was bound by its constitution, and could not approve of alterations for which it had no mandate.

Colonel Campbell urged for further consideration before making a reversal of policy such sas was proposed. They could cable to England asking how the motion would affect New ZealaxkPs membership. ! Dr. M'Evedy said he would) accept Mr. Wylie-'s suggestion for an adjournment to.-a date in May. He stated that he did not in any way suggest that any union favoured Northern Unionism, but that was what amendment of the rules would lead to.

Dr. M'Evedy's amendment was carried by 17 votes to 15 (the Otago votes altering the state).

Before the meeting adjourned it was agreed that the English Union should be communicated with to see what effect the proposed alteration would have on affiliation.