THE RUGBY GAME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3831, 14 May 1913, Page 6

THE RUGBY GAME.

tho Editor.)

. Sir, —Now that some well-intcntioil-ed followed, of Rugby football has opened a correspondence dealing with football matters in this district, perhaps some views-of the players themselves may be of interest. L might say that the wholesome and candid criticisms appearing from time to time in your journal have been much appreciated especially by a majority of tho players, though I think that your reporter might have been a little less harsh in his report of Saturday s match, considering it was the first match of the season. It is true that tho Maori team only mustered 12 when tho whistle set the game going, while the Pakehas had 14, and it is also true that many of the players lacked condition, but, as I have already remarked, it was the first match oi the season and -one cannot expect too much so early. With regard to tho various things that have been said about the way the Rugby Union conducts its affairs, I n.m afraid-the-majority of them are only too true. One has only to go back to' the annual meeting to-get an example. It was reported that Mr Gatland was appointed chairman of tho Management Committee, and then a week later it was announced that Mr H. Maude had accepted the position. What I want to know is why did they elect Mr. Gatland chairman? Another tliiiig, too, is the representation on the ManagementCommittee. I think it totally unfair that Kaiti-City should have three members and a club likeGarrison have no .representation at all. Something should bo done to alter matters so that each club could lie represented. One more thing, also, should, I think, be altered, and that is the Union having two .secretaries I cannot for the life of me see why two secretaries are needed, except to make the working of the Union more, cumbersome. 1 fancy then' would bo. less friction and a great deal more satisfaction if there were only one sectretary to look after the affairs of the Union. —I am. etc., “RUGBY PLAYER.”