RUGBY SELECTION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 27, 31 July 1924, Page 6

RUGBY SELECTION

NO POLITICAL INFLUENCE?

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —I am sure the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union will be pleased to hear at last something of the personnel of the* mysterious deputation that waited upon the Hon. J. G. Coates last Friday night. Up to the present it has been shrouded in mystery.

Those of us who took exception to the business on Monday last have no desire to cast any of the blame on either Mr. Coates or Mr. Massey. They have been put in a false position by others. The reason given to us for holding a special meeting, at which it was known three of us could not be present, to consider a, matter that had already been turned down with a thud, was that the request came from these two gentlemen, supporting a mysterious deputation of influential men. Wo were not told that they merely handed on the request. It appears now, however, that those who endeavoured to get behind the selectors to include Wright used Mr. Coates and Mr. Massey for their own ends—which is very umorfcunate.

The more I think of it, the more difficult it becomes to understand Dr. M'Evedy. Doubtless he wished to improve the team—l accept his assurance of that —but as an old international player and as an ex-member of the Management committee of. the New Zealand Rugby Umon, surely he should know that such a method of attaining his end was highly improper. , Now, if this, matter were so terribly urgent,- why did not these mysterious gentlemen approach the members of the committee? Every one of the Management Committee could have been approached by personal canvass or telephone at any time on Friday. Then, why go to Mr. Coates? Was it not because these gentlemen thought his name or his backing would add weight to or bolster up, their irregular proceedings? me Management 'Committee could have been approached just as easily and as effectively by direct methods as through a Cabinet Minister. In view of these facts, I may be pardoned for being a little dubious about tiie political influence. It is very regrettable that any such "wangling" was ever attempted. As an ex-member of the Management Committee, Dr. M'Evedy must realise that we could not go behind the selectors' backs, and that it was our duty to stand by them, no matter how influential the deputation. If we allowed it once, where would the matter end? Moreover, as one who has always stressed the necessity of observing strictly the laws of amateurism, he makes his acts inconsistent with his words, for such a proceeding would have made Wright a professional and the New Zealand Kugby Union a professional body.

Others besides the doctor would prefer to have seen other half-backs chosen, but they have not gone quits: as far as he has, in offering to give five guineas towards sending one half-back Home, and in using the influence of Mr. Coates to send another! Whether Dr.- M'Kvedy wished to use Mr. Coates's personal or political influence, he has certainly convicted himself of endeavouring to pull the strings. No apology may be needed, but such actions are woefully inconsistent with the principles of amateurism and clean sport. ■ Several of the Management Committee are disgusted at the lengths to whicli this agitation was carried, and we are now also aware who was behind' the movement in Auckland. Why, eveu the All Blacks were approached in 'Auckland to sign a "round robin" in favour of the business, but, greatly to their credit, they would lu/;e nothing to do •with it:

Every conceivable aVenue seems to nave been exploited to get Wright iutc the team, and the fact that all these back-door methods have come to nought is, at any rate, one thing to the credit of the New Zealand Rugby Union.—l am, etc.,. T. A. FLETCHER. 31st July.