THEFTS CONTINUE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 23, 27 July 1927, Page 8

THEFTS CONTINUE

RUGBY PLAYERS' LOSSES

Appeal fob assistance

Each season complaints are received by the Management Committee of the Wellington Eugby Union of thefts from dressing sheds during the progress of matches. This year the attention of the committee has been drawn to a number of cases where articles have been stolen. A number of players Have been relieved of sums of money, while others have lost socks,' shirts, coats, boots, etc., and in spite of appeals to the police for assistance the thefts continue. At last evening's meeting of the Management Committee a letter was received from the University. Tootball Club reporting the theft of a new suit of clothes.

The letter from the secretary of the University Club stated that one of the members of the junior team had a new suit stolen from the dressing shed while ho vu playing at the Polo Ground, Miramar, on Saturday last. Two other players each had a pair of shoes taken and various other small srms of money. Before the match players handed him such valuables as watches and large sums of money, which he took care of, but it was quite impracticable to take that precaution with suits, and shoes. The matter of the two pair's of shoes and the small sums of money would have to be allowed to pass as one of the petty thefts at such grounds, but it was felt by the team mates of the player whose suit was taken that they could not allow him to suffer the expense of a new suit without doing something to assist him in the matter. He was collecting from the members of the team and also from other sympathetic members of the club and supporters to flefray the cost jof the Buit, but the sum iivolved, &S Bs, was a considerable .hurdle. , Under the circumstances he wished $o know whether the union could see its way clear to grant a £, for £ subsidy on the amount so collected, such gubsidy not to exceed £4. '.:.":'. APPEAL FOB JEOTECTIONJ > *•! would like to make an>, appeal,.", Continued-, the letter, "that something be done";with" reference to the safeguarding of players/ property C.-at these grounds. The'sheds; at. this; and other. grounds lave doors, which could quiteeasily be fitted with a loekj and even where this is not possible the caretaker or a member of.Ms family, could be employed at a small: expense to tako care of the shed. It must be realised that it is a serious matter when- players cannot with safety leave their, ordinary clothes in the dressing sheds without running the risk "of losing them." . . ■ ■-;

'■ Mr. G. F. W. Jackson suggested that' arrangements be made to have the shedj locked,, after the , members of the', younger teams were out. Mr. A. J. Griffiths: "These thefts go ob week after week. I made a protest here a few weeka back, but the police won't do anything. They do not appear to want to get these people, and I think it is a matter for private "detectives. That is the only way I can pee of catching these thieves." Mr. J. Prendeville (chairman): "Recently thieves broke into the Kilbirnie dressing shed through a ventilator.": It was decided, to writo to the police drawing their attention to"tho theft of the articles from the JTiiivorsity players. ' With regard to the suggestion' t that ■the union grant a ,& for it was regretted that tho union could not. comply., with the request, the members!■ of the committee being of the -.opinion

that-it woultweaW'-a^onsiderable difficulty." ■

Professor Boyd-Wilson: ""We shall have to have a new suit fund."

Mr. Griffiths: "Then all players will be losing things and they will all be now suits." (Laughter.)