RUGBY LEAGUE Ambulance Brigades Resent Remarks Of Control Board

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1948, Page 8

RUGBY LEAGUE Ambulance Brigades Resent Remarks Of Control Board

Reports of last week’s meeting of the Board of Control of the West Coast Rugby League relative to the lack of first-aid attention to injured players at Hokitika produced a quick reaction from members of West Coast St John Ambulance Brigades and a deputation from three brigades waited upon the board last night, with the avowed object of refuting what it claimed to be “unwarranted criticism and unfavourable publicity.” The discussion was lengthy and before the deputation withdrew members expressed the opinion that “it had cleared the air.”

The deputation comprised Messrs W. Moore and G. Kinsey (Greyrnouth Brigade), A. A. Hildebrand, B. Smith, L. N. Downes and E. FosterLynam (Runanga), G. Anderson and F. Myers (Blackball). Chief spokesman for the deputation was Mr Hildebrand, who said that the remarks published in the papers were responsible for the deputation. It appeared from one report in particular that the St John Ambulance had let the League down, which was contrary to fact. The Runanga bribade had 14 members who took the responsibility for the Wingham Park and Rapahoe grounds and they took exception to the published remarks. In fact, the brigades were unanimous that in some respects they had had pretty “raw” treatment. Many Cases Treated Continuing, Mr Hildebrand said that since the Runanga brigade commenced operations in 1941 it had treated no fewer than 634 cases on league grounds, which represented 846 man hours, apart from the two hours weekly the members spent at practice. In addition, nothing had been arranged about the the transport of the men on duty. Mr Hildebrand also stressed that an effort had been made to establish a class in Hokitika but no League representatives had attended the meeting. The secretary (Mr T. F. McKenzie) interposed to state that a letter had already been sent to the Hokitika club drawing its attention to the fact, which had only recently come to the notice oi the board, and requesting it to support the efforts being made in that town.

‘•lf the public is going to read that sort of thing, we might as well pack up,” said Mr Hildebrand, after the chairman (Mr B. F. Connors) had pointed out that the reports to which the brigades objected were necessarily an abridged version of a long discussion in which there was no suggestion of criticism. Mr Hildebrand also made reference to the fact that it had cost his brigade £6 for supplies used at League football matches, that some referees started matches after injuries before the ambulance men left the field, and he also made some requests regarding equipment at Wingharn Park. “The main reason we came here was to square ourselves with, the public,” concluded Mr Hildebrand. -We think that we have given you a square deal and that the public wiU get the impression from those reports in the paper that we have let you down.”

Mr Moore, on behalf of. the Greymouth brigade, stressed that duties on numerous grounds on Saturdays made it impossible for the brigade, with limited numbers, to accept regular duties on Sundays. He expressed the opinion that too much was taken for granted in regard to ambulance attendance and pointed out that it had cost the brigade about £lB to treat football injuries on all the grounds which it served. In addition, Hokitika was outside of any brigade’s district.

Mr Kinsey agreed that the reports had “not made nice reading” and pointed out that after attending the Cobden ground every Saturday and Sunday tie had been abused in some directions when he missed one-day. Requests Made Other members of. the deputation placed similar facts before the meeting and made several requests in regard to their work on football grounds, including enforcement of the rule that the ambulance men should have the final say as to whether a player who had been injured should leave the field. It was pointed out that the letter which the Board of Control had written last season relative to attendances at the Hokitika ground had been wrongly addressed to the Greymouth brigade, instead of to the association. At the conclusion of the discussion, Mr Connors said that he did not think there was any necessity for any hard feelings. He was satisfied that the air had been cleared as a result of the discussion and a ’note had been taken of the various requests made by the members of the deputation. At the earliest opportunity, they would be fully discussed and the League would try to co-operate more than in the past. “We are mindful of the work you have done,” concluded Mr Connors. “You have done a wonderful job and I want to thank you publicly lor it. You are doing a service to humanity. It has always been appreciated by this League and where possible we'will meet your requests.” Returning thanks on behalf of the deputation, Mr Hildebrand said he agreed that the discussion would go a long way towards clearing up the situation and towards getting a bigger understanding of the brigades’ problems. DRAWN KNOCK-OUT MATCHES TO BE REPLAYED Although in August last year the Board of Control of the West Coast I Rugby League decided that in all future knock-out matches extra time,, up to a maximum of 20 minutes, in spells of five minutes, should be played in the event of a draw, this fact was overlooked on two occasions on Sunday and the Blackball-Ngahere senior game and the Brunner-Black-ball senior reserve game both ended with the scores even. This fact was disclosed in. the course of a discussion at last nights meeting of the Board of Control, when it was decided that the drawn games should be replayed, the senior match next Sunday. Mr J. Kidd, as the fixtures statistician, asked for a ruling on whether the failure of the Cobden senior team to travel to Hokitika last Sunday was to be treated as a default. Following a discussion in com-! mittee, a motion to declare Cobden’s action’a default was lost and it was

i decided that the Cobden-Hokitika match be again set down for next Sunday. The Kohinoor fifth grade team, was declared the winner of the one-round competition and Marist the winner of the fourth grade one-round’’competi-tion. In view of the number of fifth grade teams granted permission to travel, it was decided to rescind the previous motion to play an -extra round in the fifth grade competition and to commence fourth and fifth grade knockout competitions this week. The West Coast deleft u- uii the Rew Zealand Council (Mr vV Swift) forwarded a letter from the Western Suburbs Club (Sydney) :.iaclng that its team was unable to stay long enough in New Zealand on its forthcoming tour to enable it to accept invitations to play matches in the South Island and. its programme would be confined to the matches arranged by the Auckland League. Present at the meeting were Messrs B. F. Connors (chairman), J. Kidd, J. Oakley, R. Armstrong, N. Messenger, B. Ramsay, L. P. Coffey and T. F. McKenzie (secretary). WARNINGISSUED TO CLUB AND PLAYER The Board of Control of the West Coast Rugby League last evening gave further consideration to the action of the Ngahere Club in playing in its senior team a registered member of the Blackball Club, which action was the subject of a warning to the Ngahere club last week. Following a lengthy discussion, which was taken in committee, it was decided to advise the player concerned that he had contravened the rules of the League by playing for Ngahere while still a member of the Blackball Club and that if he played again next Sunday, the game would be awarded to the opposing team, irrespective of the result. It was also decided to convey a similar warning to the Ngahere Club. Applications by the Runanga Club lor permission for its senior team to play a club match at Huntly during its northern tour (September 26) and for its fourth grade team to play matches in Christchurch on September 11 and 12 were granted. The Canterbury League wrote entering a challenge for the Thacker Shield, held by Runanga as the West Coast champions, on behalf of the Christchurch club. The secretary reported that he had suggested September 11 as the date for the match and the matter was held over pending further advice from Canterbury. The Canterbury League advised that the Linwood Club had been granted i permission to send its senior and senior reserve teams to the West Coast on a date to be arranged, to play Marist and Blackball respectively. x , The Schoolboys’ Board of Control ■ advised that Marist A had been de- ■ dared the winner of the seventh grade competition (Herb Moore Cup) and Brunner the winner of the ninth grade competition (Findlay Memorial Cup). Mr Messenger reported that the New Zealand Schoolboys’ Board of Control had granted permission for a South Island schoolboys’ team to be selected i after the West Coast-Canterbury i games, to play the West. Coast filth grade team. Mr T. Merriman (Runanga) had been appointed the fifth grade selector and Mr Stewart (Christ- ! church) the manager. ’ Fixtures For Week-end ‘ The West Coast Rugby League's iix- ■ lures for the week-end are as follows’ — Senior i Knock-out ).—■ Blackball v Ngahere, at Blackball, 2.45 p.m. (J. Mathews); Hokitika v Cobden, at Hokitika, 2.45 p.m. (P. Sweetman) ; : Marist and Runanga byes. Senior Reserve—Blackball v .Lake Brunner, at Blackball, 1.15 p.m. (J. ■ Williams) ; Brunner v Rapahoe, at L Rapahoe, 2.45 p.m. (W. Mundy.); Run- . anga v Cobden, Wingham Park No. 1. 2.45 p.m. (J. Griffin),; Ngahere v Marist. ' at Wingham h’ark No. 2, 2.45 (W. Moore). ‘ Third Grade. —Brunner v Blackball, ' at Dobson, 2.45 p.m, iW. Hopkins),. Fourth Grade. —Cobden v Hokitika, [ at Cobden, 2.45 p.m. (B. Casey); Marist v Runanga, at Rapahoe, 1.15 p.m. (J. ' Knowles) ; Kohinoor v Marist third ■ grade, at Wingham Park No. 2, 1.15 ■ p.m. (H. Fisher). Fifth Grade.—Hokitika v Marist, at Cobden, 1.15 p.m. (T. Freeman) ; Blackball v Runanga, at Wingham Park, 1.15 I p.m. (K. Bullimore).