IS SOCCER DEAD IN TARANAKI?

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 June 1924, Page 10

IS SOCCER DEAD IN TARANAKI?

(To the Editor.) Sir,—May I claim the indulgence ol your paper to reply on behalf of “.Fair Play’' re Mr McMahon's letter which appeared in Monday’s issue of the Star when the Manaia and Rawera Clubs failed to respond in their Julian Cup fixtures with Auroa on the 14th inst., in which he states an injustice has been done to the Manaia Club. I fail to see how that can be ; if one or two were laid aside through previous in- j juries or otherwise, why on earth did | not the others put in an appearance? j Recently Eltham played a fixture with Auroa, and half of their team were suf- ■ feeing more or less from previous injuries; in fact, as referee in that match 1 had to use the powers vested in a referee to keep clown rough play. The team had travelled 20 miles to fulfil its appointment with Auroa in shocking weather, and Eltham is a very strong Rugby centre * like Manaia. Again, Mr McMahon gives the very plausible excuse that Manaia was not represented at the meeting of the T.F.A. Why were they not represented ? On the day of the match Mr McMahon sent, through a co-worker in the same establishment as himself, also a member of the Manaia Soccer Club,

a telephone message to Auroa apprising ; them of the fact that it was impossible to send a team. A member of my executive acted on my. behalf who lives in close proximity to the post office, and who has instructions to receive and answer urgent messages on my behalf in connection with the dull, and i of which I am unable to do owing to my distance from the post .office. The answer he sent hack, after discussing the matter with the Manaia representative, was that Manaia must either play the match or forfeit it, and >he agreed on behalf of the club to send a team. I consider that the Auroa member acted wisely, considering Auroa had no more notice than did Manaia in connection with the matches. Personally, I spent the morning marking out the grounds and preparing for the matches to keep faith with the visiting teams, and I can see no reason why the matches could not have been played considering the weather was fine and the ground in perfect order. As regards playing.the match on Thursday, June 19, I beg to inform Air AlcAlahon that I did not receive his letter intimating these facts until the day after he suggested the. match could be play- * ed,-which was, of course, too late to do anything. In fact, a letter was in the hands of the secretary of the association claiming the 'match hv default. Avhich is not tire policy of the Auroa Club. They would rather play them. The writer again brings the half-holi-day question forward as another, excuse of the team’s non-fulfilment of their fixture, but I have him on that . score. There are only, to my knowledge. three players of the Manaia Soccer Club who either work on wages or do not work more than eight hours a day, and their hair-holiday falls on a Saturday, the clay which was set apart for this match. All the other

.members of the dob ;ire farmers, and > can almost get away any day at this time of the year. True. Auroa is a soceer locality, but it, too,, has at times to suffer through the inability of some of the Rughv players to .fulfil their engagements with their dub. The writer suggests that I use my best endeavours to induce the Auroa Club to meet the other dubs on mutually convenient days'. May I point out to Mr McMahon that at the first executive meeting .after the annual meeting of the T.F.A. the days set apart for playing were fixed at that meeting. Manaia, Auroa and Hawera were set down for Saturdays at the delegates’ request, and all other clubs for Thursday, their half-holiday falling on that day with the exception of the Hawera Wednesday teams, which plays on a Wednesday. As far as Auroa Club .is concerned we can play our matches any day of the week (Sundays excepted), provided we get reasonable notice of the alteration. Trusting I have explained fully to Mr McMahon the position as far as the Auroa Club is concerned. Again thanking you, Mr Editor, for your valuable space in connection with this matter, and as far as I am concerned this matter is ended. —I am. etc., T. H. BROOMFIELD. Hon. Sec. Auroa Soccer Club.