UP IN ARMS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 19

UP IN ARMS

ALLEGATIONS OF ROUGH

PLAY

HAWKES BAY'S TAIL TWISTED

REPLIES TO BE MADE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NAPIER, 27th August.

Hawkes Bay is up in arms concerning serious allegations made in a certain section of the "Wellington Press against Hawkes Bay players in the recent Eanfurly Shield match against Wellington.

In order to afford some protection to its players, the Hawkes Bay Bugby Union took the matter up last evening, and were loud in their condemnation of the allegations made. Mr. N. A. M'Kenzie, the Hawkes Bay selector, even went so far as to suggest that the union should cancel the return match to be played.in Wellington on 2nd October, as it was evident that the Hawkes Bay team would be subject to much abuse if it took the field:

The decision of the union, however, was to appoint Messrs. J. W. Norrie, J. W. Callaghan, and W. Anderson (secretary) a special committeoto draw up a reply to the various newspaper articles appearing derogatory to Hawkes Bay representative football. The decision as to whether a return match with Wellington will be played was also left to that committee.

The union deferred its decision onthe question of whether or not the Eanfury Shield-will be taken-with the team on their Southern tour.

The chairman said they should send a good team to keep faith with the Southerners, whether the shield went or not. "WITHOUT THE LEAST FOUNDATION." "It is a very unpleas-.nt business, but I.feel we have got to take some notice with regard to the disgraceful allegations;made by a certain section of the Press against several of. our representatives," stated Mr. J. W. Callaghan,' in bringing the matter forward. "I think the public of Hawkes Bay would be very disappointed if we, as the: governing body, did not take some notice, and make some effort to put the true facts before the rest of New Zealand, as it; affects the players. I feel I am voicing the opinion of the rest of the members of this union when I say that if we for' a moment considered there was any truth in some of the statements made we would no longer take part in the governing of football in this district. I am further voicing the opinion of members when I say that the more serious allegations are without the least foundation in fact.

"We all know it was a hard game, and that is where the shoe pinches Wellington. We possess men of great strength and stamina, and they are suffering because they play up to their strength. One of our most prominent members has been accused of deliberately jumping on a man, and another with inflicting an injury with his teeth, and so on. I think it all so puerile that were it not for the feelings of our players we could afford to take no notice of them. . . . Something has to be done to give an effective reply that will reach the public that has seen these scurrilous articles. . . ."

"Our players play the game for the game's sake, and for the honour' of Hawkes Bay," stated Mr. N. A. M'Kenzie. "Wellington now is seething with comment about the Hawkes Bay team. Those of the Wellington public who were up here have got back and pitched yarns in excuse for Wellington's defeat. To my idea, it would not be fair to ask the Bay team to appear in Wellington if they are going to bo abused, and the union should consider cancelling the match on 2nd October." (Hear, hear.) WELLINGTON UNION ALSO BLAMED. "I agree with Mr. M'Kenzie.that we should cancel the return match," stated Mr. W.-O'Neill, "and the more so because the. officials of the Wellington Rugby Union were here and saw the game, and in fairness they, could have taken some steps to protect us. I even know of ono'member who remarked that tUe Wellington; team wero nearly murdered." ' '■' ■ " '

Mr. B. Tweedie said the referee after the game Volunteered :the statement that there was nothing, wrong with the game, and it was as clean as he could have wished. '"The question of concellation wants a lot of consideration, because we have to look to the future."

Mr. A. W. H. King thought that a decision ■ should be arrived ■at in regard to cancelling the return match.

Mr. J. W. Norrie .(chairman): "I can assure you the Wellington Union will be. approached on the matter."

Mr. M'Kenzio: "It would not be right for us to let our'players get a bad time. The more I think about it the worse I think it will be."

"The power of the Press in New Zealand is unique," remarked Mr. Norrie, Mand'l am glad to say we have to thank many of the papers for their very fair reports, but all this trouble emanates from two or three, who apparently do not understand the power of the Press. The antagonistic.critics number two or three, but their opinions are taken up by thousands. There is one man. we should not take any notice of. Previously ho has had to. apologise to this union. The feeble manner in which he writes is a disgrace to him and his paper, and I am surprised at the paper ■ allowed such matter to be published. WELLINGTON FLAYER WARNED. "It is significant that only one man was warned by the referee in the game, i and that was a Wellington player. The : referee was always fully up with the game, and in complete control. I fail to remember any exhibition of refereeing that was better than that given by I Mr. Eckhold. (Hear, hear.) "Another writer is an uneonseientious cub. We have had it from him be- ! fore. I would suggest to you that he is a man creating feeling. . . .We are not to blame if Wellington fi-lded an unfit team. The whole thing is purely a matter of finding excuses to back np their opinions in bolstering up a papermade team. . . ."

At the end of the discussion, Mr, Norrie said: "The committee will report to next week's meeting of the union, and you will have to abide by the decision of that committee in its endeavour to clear the matter up. Whether the return Wellington game will be played or not will be mentioned next week."