RUGBY LEAGUE Ngahere’s Allegation Of 'Victimisation' Refuted

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1949, Page 8

RUGBY LEAGUE Ngahere’s Allegation Of 'Victimisation' Refuted

An allegation that the Ngahere club had been “victimised” by the Board of Control of the West Coast Rugby League was strongly denied by members of the board at last night’s meeting of the executive. The discussion arose out of a protest by a Ngahere delegate, Mr T. Furlong, relative to a letter sent to the club concerning the playing of a Blackball club member, R. O'Donnell, by Ngahere in the recent Challenge Shield game. Referring to the letter, Mr Furlong said he thought the explanation was self-evident. “If we had had. sufficient players we would not have played O'Donnell —the board should have realised that,” he added. Mr Furlong continued that Ngahere had brought down another player, a man' who had never played a game of league football, but were unable to outfit him with a pair of boots. That was the only reason why O’Donnell was played. Mr J. J. Haddock said that the position which had faced the Board of Control was what would have happened if Ngahere had beaten Marist. “Marist Quite Satisfied” Mr Furlong said that the Ngahere officials had spoken to the Marist coach about the matter and Marist was quite satisfied with the position. “We had the same experience last year with Kirwan,” he added. ‘lt looks that we are being victimised. We don’t want to hang the game with red tape.” “You can get it out of your head that there was any question of victimisation,” said Mr J. Griffin. ‘ lhe position was that I was handed a card with a false name on it and we had to take notice .of it.” (Mr Griffin, a member of the board, was referee ol th® match).

Mr Furlong ■ said there was no question of a wrong name being pur on the card deliberately. The man whose name was included on the team list could not get a pair of boots to fit him and O’Donnell was then put on in his place. Mr Griffin: That was never explained to me. There was no suggestion of victimisation, but I think you would expect us to do what we did in the interests of football. The president, Mr J. Kidd, said he thought the “victimisation” part of Mr Furlong’s remarks was quite out of order. There was no question of victimisation against any club at all. The members of the board worked in the interests of all clubs and they would be a poor lot of administrators unless they sat up and took notice when their attention was drawn to a wrong name on a referee’s card. “I realised in my own mind that Ngahere would not have played O’Donnell if they had a full team, but when the matter was brought up we had to take notice of it,” added Mr Kidd. Mr Furlong: The circumstances oi last year when Kirwan was involved still rankle with us. It was quite unnecessary. Blackball raised no objection to the playing of Kirwan, who had changed his place of residence. Transfer Rule The secretary (Mr T. F. McKenzie): The executive committee of the league raised the objection. We had a resolution on our books that no transfers should be permitted after June 30.

Mr Furlong: If you are going to adhere strictly to the rules, ‘eventually you are going to wipe a club out, and at the present time we cannot afford that.

Mr W. Meates pointed out that the board did not know the facts when it decided to write to Ngahere on the subject. The fact that there was no protest from a clisb did not mean that the Board of Control could not take action. “I don’t think you gentlemen realise the struggle we are having to put 13 players on the paddock,” said Mr Furlong. “But had we known that another name was on the card, instead of OtDonnell’s this matter would never have been discussed by the club.” .x The president: It looks as if it has just been an oversight. Mr E. Kerridge moved that the Ngahere delegate’s explanation of the incident be accepted. The motion was seconded by Mr T. Freeman and was carried. Transfer Applications The question of inter-club transfers was discussed at length in committee and it was later announced that the following motions had been passed:—(l) That, in future any player applying for a transfer must appear in person before the Board of Control in support of his application and (2) that a circular letter be sent to all clubs stating that the league did not appreciate “poaching” of players among the clubs. Present at the meeting were Messrs 'J. Kidd (chairman), J. J. Haddock, P. E. Sweetman, W. Meates, J. Griffin, N. C. Messenger, R. Lee (Board of Control), C. Lee and B. Creagh (Brunner club), T. Howard (Rapahoe), L. Hunter and O. O’Connell (Runanga), T. Freeman and L. Hahn (Cobden), G. H. Ord and W. Maloney (Nelson Creek), J. Walker (Blackball, M. Power and W. Gilbert (Marist), T. Furlong, W. Daly (Ngahere), and T. F. McKenzie (secretary). SENIOR SELECTORS CHANGED: MR DODDS RETIRES Two members of last year’s senior selection committee of the West Coast Rugby League were not re-elected when the ballot held among the clubs was counted at last evening’s meeting oi the executive. Mr J. Dodds withdrew his name from the ballot before the voting papers were sent to the clubs, and Mr J. Oakley was defeated in the ballot. The new selectors are Messrs R. Clark and N. Griffiths (both of whom have previously acted in a similar capacity) arid Mr W. (“Jock”) McNaughton. of Blackball, who retired from active participation in the game only last year. There were six nominations for the three senior selectors’ positions, six for senior reserve, six for the third grade and five for the fourth grade. As a result of the clubs’ ballot, the new selection committees are as follows:— Senior. —Messrs R. Clark, N. Griffiths and J. McNaughton. Senior Reserve—Messrs T. Freeman, T. Jackson and H. Kennedy. Third Grade. —Messrs T. Merriman. N. C. Messenger and A. Hoggarth. Fourth Grade.—Messrs L. Hunter, W. Kells and L. Zampese. Prior to the counting of the voting papers, the secretary (Mr T. F. McKenzie) asked for a ruling on whether it would be permissable for a member of the Referees’ Association to hold office as a selector. After some discussion, Mr W. Meates moved that such dual office be permitted. The motion seconded by Mr M. Power and was carried by 13 votes to four, but as a result of the ballot, the situation envisaged by the secretary did not arise. Officers’ Association To Be Formed By Chibs The formation of a senior officers' association,-on the lines of similar organisations in Auckland and, Wellington was decided upon by the executive of the West Coast Rugby League at its meeting last night. The suggestion came from the. Kohincor Club which wrote stating that it considered such an association would epable the clubs to discuss various problems which were outside the actual duties of the league. The secretary said that the Auckland Senior Officers’ Association comprised the president and secretary of every club and the president and secretary of the league. Mr E. Kerridge (Kohinoor delegate) said they did not mind keen rivalry among the teams but wanted all officials to be on a friendly basis, which would undoubtedly help the league. “If we had an association like that, half the discussion we have had tonight would have been eliminated,” concluded Mr W. Meates. On the motion of Messrs L. Hahn and L. Hunter it was decided that steps be taken to form an association as suggested by the Kohinoor Club.

It was decided that the seats in front of the grandstand at Wingham Park be reserved for the sole use of players taking part in early matches. It was decided to send a letter to Mr K. Mountford, who is in the Dunedin Hospital, wishing him a speedy recovery from his illness. * Mr J. Walker, Blackball, drew attention to the fact that C. Mountford, the former Blackball player now with Wigan (England) was due in New Zealand on holiday on May 31 an<J it was suggested that he should be invited to address a meeting of the executive during his stay in Blackball. Fixtures For Week-end The West Coast Rugby League’s fixtures for the week-end are as follows:— Senior.—Blackball v Marist, at Blackball, 2.45 p.m. (R. Baird); Runanga v Ngahere, at Wingham Park, 2.45 p.m (J. Griffin). Reserve Grade.—Nelson Creek v Lake Brunnes-, at Nelson Creek, 2.45 p.m. (W. Bullimore); Brunner v Runanga, at Taylorville, 2.45 p.m. (L. Kinsella); Rapahoe v Marist, at Rapahoe, 2.45 p.m. (K. Bullimore); Blackball v Cobden (ground to be arranged). Third Grade.—Cobden v Marist, at Wingham Park No. 1, 1;15 p.m. (W. Hopkins); Ngahere v Lake Brunner, at Ngahere, 2.45 p.m. (W. Mundy); Brunner v Kohinoor, at Dobson, 2.30 p.m. (S. Knapp); Runanga a bye. Fourth Grade.—Runanga v Marist, at Rapahoe, 1.15 p.m. (J. Quinn); Cobden v Blackball, at Cobden, 1.15 p.m. (H. Bassett); Kohinoor v Hokitika, at Wingham Park No. 2, 2.45 p.m. (B Casey).

Fifth Grade.—Blackball v Kohinoor, at Blackball, 1.15 p.m. (J. Williams): Marist v Hokitika, at Wingham Park No. 2, 1.15 p.m. (J. Ward); Brunner v Runanga, at Taylorville, 1.15 p.m. (B. McGirr).

Schoolboys (Saturday) .—Sixth grade: Hokitika v Kohinoor, at Victoria Park, 2.30 p.m.; Marist a bye. Seventh grade: Blackball v Ngahere, at Blackball, 11 a.m.; Marist v Runanga, at Victoria Park, 10.30 a.m. Eighth grade: Nelson Creek v Blackball at Blackball, 10 a.m,; Brunner v Marist, at Victoria Park, 10.30 a.m ; Kumara v Cobden, at Victoria Park, 2.30 p.m. ■ Ninth grade (Sunday): Kohinoor v Blackball, at Blackball, 2.30 p.m.; Ngahere v Runanga, at Wingham Park, 2.30 p.m,; Hokitika v Cobden, at Wingham Park, 1.10 p.m.; Marist v Brunner, at Taylorville, 2.30 p.m.