RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 239, 27 September 1930, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COMPLAINTS FROM WAIROA NO NORTHERN BEPS. IN H.B. TEAM. SELECTOR OUTLINES TELE POSITION. The treatment by the H.B. Bugby Union during the past season of Wairoa players who were candidates for the Hawke’s Bay Provincial team was the subject of a strongly worded letter from the Wairoa Subunion. Exception was taken to the action of tho selector in, the Subunion alleged, refraining from considering the abilities of Wairoa players, Mr N. A. McKenzie, selector, in reply to the allegations pointed out that ho had endeavoured to secure players, but they were either not available or did not turn up.

The union, after discussing tho matter appointed a committee consisting of ’Messrs J. W. Norrie, N. A. McKenzie and A. W. H. King to confer with the Wairoa Sub-union when all grievances raised by the latter body would be fully gone into. The letter from tho Wairoa SubUnion stated that last year it was particularly asked to arrange its cup fixtures so as to finish the season early and to leave its players available for selection in the Hawke’s Bay team. This tho Sub-union had done, but aparently unnecessarily, as it was noted that no local players wero chosen for either of tho North Auckland, Taranaki or Wellington matches. Further than this, on only one occasion (the southern tour) hail tho Subunion been asked to nominate players for inclusion in tho Itawko’s Bay team, and as far as was known tho Bub-union’s selector had not been consulted.

NO INQUIRY AS TO MERIT! Tho letter stated that it did not pretended to say any of its players should necessarily have been included in the Hawke’s Bay team, but it did assert that the union’s selector had not taken any opportunity of seeing the Sub-unioa’s players on the field, nor as far as could be ascertained, had ho made any inquiries as to their merits. Tho Sub-union was reluctant ly forced to the conclusion that for some unknown reason the union's selector had studiously and purposely refrained from considering the ability of the local players. It was hard to credit, despite the undefeated record of the local representative team this year, that none of the players could bo worth of inclusion even as emergencies in tho Hawke’s Bay team, which had apparently not been an out standing success this season. The treatment camo at an unfortunate time seeing that there was a strong agiation on. the part of tho Poverty Bay Union to get the Wairoa Bubunion to join up with them. The selector Mr McKenzie stated that for the North Auckland, Taranaki and Wellington matches Wairoa was asked on two occasions for nominations. When the team was going to Wairarapa he approached several players, only to be told that they would not bo available, yet they were able to play for Wairoa against a Napier-Hastings team. This, ho folt showed lack of loyally on the part of tho Sub-union. When nominations wero asked for the southern tour six wore received. Out of these two were selected besides another player who was not nominated. Ono of the players selected failed to go and he hafi not heard the reason why. As a result he had felt disappointed nt the lack of assistance he received from Wairoa. It seemed that Wairoa liked to have their players in the representative team only when it suited them. DONE ALL POSSIBLE. The chairman, Mr J. W. Norrie, stated that Mr McKenzie had done all that was possible for Wairoa and the Sub-union had no idea of the difficulty under which ho had been labouring. Wairoa had had a good season which, howover, did not meau that tho players were suitable for inclusion in the representative team. Pirates were the champion team one season yet it did not have a player in the representative team. Mr J W. Callaghan sold that Mr McKenzie need not made any apology as tho union had every confidence in him. The Sub-union’s letter was not correct. Mr Callaghan pointed out that tho union had a simi lar difficulty with the Dannevirko Sub-union a few years ago. Ho was of the opinion that a conference between members of tho union and the Sub-union would bo beneficial. Mr Norrie: Tho older members of tho Sub-union are very loyal to us. Mr W. Anderson (secretary): Last season the Wairoa Sub-union sent us s. letter of appreciation for what the union had done.

Mr A. W. H. King stated that in the past Wniroa had helped tho union, and he thought that the matter could be settled diplomatically.

The chairman stated that the Subuion had had difficulties but had created them itself by paying the expenses of players to'matches so that they were always scratching for funds. He was satisfied that the majority of tho members of the Subuion were labouring under a misapprehension. The meeting then decided upon tho committee referred to above visiting Wairoa to endeavour to clear away any misunderstanding.