RUGBY CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 57, 8 March 1923, Page 10

RUGBY CONTROL

METHOD OF ELECTION

CLUB REPRESENTATION WANTED

The constitution of the Management Committee of the Wellington Eugby Union was the subject of a spirited discussion at the annual meeting of the Poneke Football Club last evening, and unanimous expression of opinion was given in favour of an alteration in the method of electing delegates to the Management Committee. The matter arose from remarks made by Mr. U. P. Calcinai during that stage of the meeting when nominations were being received for the office of 'delegates to the union. Mr. Calcinai stated that it was evident that players were not wanted on the union's management committee, and, in pointing out that Poneke . had no delegate on the committee last season, he said that it would'be far better for the club if it had a member on that controlling body. Mr. W. White considered that it was time that players insisted upon taking a hand in the management. The fact that there were too many '-'old heads to play with the rules" was "damning the game out of all recognition." Mr. Calcinai: "There seems to be an unwritten law that a player should not be on that committee." Mr. J. Tunnington: "Why is it that players are ruled out?" Voices: "Unwritten law!" Mr. Tunnington: "Can't we root this unwritten law out of it?" A member: "What clubs are blocking it?" Mr. A. J. Griffiths: "All clubs." Mr. B. Algar considered that it was up to the club to insist upon being represented. Mr. Griffiths pointed out that two of the club's" delegates last year were members of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The other delegate was a player, • and it was not practicable to have a player as a member of the union's management committee. "When you do go down there," he added, "you are supposed to rule for Wellington football generally." Mr. Tunnington: "If a man did represent this club it would be for the benefit of Wellington football generally." Mr. Calcinai explained that a scheme had been brought forward by the Berhampore Club last year to provide for club representation, each senior club to have one member on the management committee. Under the present system of election it might so happen that, all three delegates from one club might be elected. In Dunedin there was now club, representation, and he believed the Otago Bugby Union was the only one in New Zealand to have it. They seemed to be getting on all right down there; in fact,.last year they were the premier province. The position in Wellington could be remedied by the adoption of the scheme proposed by the Bernampore Club. A member: "Members of the Rugby Union said they were going to resign if it were carried out." Another member: "Well, let them resign." The president, Dr. A. K. Newman: "It is unfortunate that some clubs are left off year after year.. I think, myself, that practically every club should be represented and not left off." Mr. Tunnington. moved to. .the effect that the club's delegates should be instructed to strive for a change by which a delegate from each senior club would be appointed .to the management committee of the Rugby Union. The motion was seconded. Mr. White: "After an experience of twenty odd years as a delegate I can tell you this: . The Poneke Club was always tabooed ■on the management committee on account of their success on the field." Matters, he said, were improved when Mr. Griffiths was elected. Continuing, he made allegations regarding the methods of obtaining the committee. "I guarantee," he said, "that for the management committc* for next year a chart is already pricked. If this proposal goes forward as a notice of motion and is carried thero will bo no chance of pricking the card. . v . Unless you are pricked on the chart before "the meeting starts you have no chance of getting on the committee." The only chance, he said, was to bring in a scheme on the lines suggested by the Berhampore Club. He contended that, in view of the growth of Rugby, the committee would not then be unwieldy. He considered that some member of the management committee should bo on every ground in case of happenings which might have to tbe brought before the committee. Finally the. meeting decided unanimously that the club's committee should draw up a notice of motion, as suggested, for the annual meeting of delegates to the Kugby Union,