THE FOOTBALL TROUBLE REVIVED.

Evening Star, Issue 9580, 28 December 1894, Page 2

THE FOOTBALL TROUBLE REVIVED.

[S?£&4ii to ran Stab.] , „ ;WBitjN6TON, Dbobmbeb 28. , .Some .months ago it was stated, on the authority of the secretary of the" New Zealand Union, that the the Otago ■ Rugby Union had, without the knowledge of their players, and without notifying the Canterbury Union, appealed to the English Rugby Union to compel tke playing of the Otago-Canterbufy match. Efforts were made to discredit this statement, just as direct denials were given to the statement of Mr Hoben two years ago to the effect that the Otago Union had sent to the English Union oertain charges against the New Zealand Union—a statement whioh was subsequently Soved. Mr Hoben has now received from r Rowland Hill, for the information of the New Zealand Union, a copy qf a letter recently .sent to the English Union by the. Otago Union. This letter will come before the next meeting of the New Zealand Union Committee, when in air"probability a reply will be sent to the English Union that the New Zealand Union had no official knowledge of any body in New Zealand outside their own affiliated unions, and therefore cannot recognise the right oi any Buch body to interfere in their affairs. The most amusing feature of this letter is that at the time it was sent, and for some time after, the parties sending it were protesting that the match was to De played in spite of the New Zealand Union. The letter is as follows :

Otago Rugby Union, Dunedin, August 14,1894,

G. Rowland Hill, horn secretary Rugby Football Union.

Dear sir,—l am directed by the Committee ot the Otago Rugby Union to layJbeiore your Committee a statement of the present position ..pi. matters as between this Union and the New Zealand Rugby Union. It may be within your recollection that some correspondence with regard to this same question was addressed to your Union about two years ago, since which time the attitude of the Otago Union in relation to the New Zealand Union has remained unchanged. This Union have from the outset refused to become affiliated to the central Union from various reasons, the chief among which may be stated:—(l) That the central Union's existence is absolutely unnecessary, inasmuch as the pre vincial unions in this colony, which are affiliated to your Union, have been granted the powers of county committees, and al'e fully competent to deal with any question that may arise within their own borders, proof of their competency consisting in the fact that in the past football has been perfectly well controlled by them. (2) That its existence is mischievous, because its avowed object is to promote tours to the neighboring colonies and cven_Jo Great Britain, and in this respect the aniateur status of players is menaced, inasmuch asthp bulk of the colonial footballers being mechanics, with no resources beyond their wages, which would necessarily cease during their absence from business, cannot possibly leave New Zealand on a lengthened trip without being paid for their services, or at all events receiving compensation for los 3 of time. (3) That as the governing body of such New Zealand Union mustof necessity be located in one centre, it is impossible for unions distant from that centre to be adequately represented, and consequently the control of football would "bo, and for the affiliated unions it is, practically placed in the hands of residents in the centre chosen as the headquarters, that centre being Wellington, which is so far distant from Dunedin; that, with the imperfect facilities for travelling that prevail in the colony, a representative of the Otago Union; if they decided to be represented at a meeting, could not attend that meeting without sacrificing at least four days' time.

In holding aloof from the New Zealand Union, my Committee conceive that they are. simply exercising that liberty of opinion which is the inalienable right of everyone. Entertaining the views I have indicated, they do not believe that the existence of the New Zealand Union is calculated to promote the interests of Rugby football, and they resent the creation of a body which, as they think, usurps the functions of the present Rugby Football Union by setting itself up as a court of appeal from provincial unions affiliated to it, and by instituting, as it is doing, a case law of its own. Because, however, the Otago Union have declined to sacrifice their independence within the colony, and because entreaty has failed to convince them of the desirability of joining the central organisation, the New Zealand Union have now tyrannically resorted to the boycott, and have determined to punish Otago, and with Otago the Southland Union, who are affiliated to your Union, and share the views of this Union, by debarring them from meeting all unions that are affiliated to the central Union. The effect of this is that this year's match between Canterbury and Otago (the Union of the former province having joined the New Zealand Union), which is the oldest interprovincial fixture in the colony, and has been played every year since 1877, is not to take place. It is on this matter that the Otago Union wish an expression of opinion from your Committee. Here are two unions those of Canterbury and Otago both of them affiliated to your Union, and neither of them under any bannof disqualification or suspension, desirous of playing their annual match, but are interdicted from doing so by the action of the New Zealand Union in forbidding the unions that are affiliated from playing. Those that have not joined the New Zealand Union, like the Unions of Southland and Otago, owe allegiance to your body, and my Union feel that they are justified in appealing to the parent Union for a decision as to whether the New Zealand Union are not exceeding their powers as an affiliated union when they assume the right to forbid matches between two other unions affiliated to the English Union.—l am, etc., Jas. Hutchison, Hon. Sec. Otago Rugby Union.