RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 July 1929, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL The Management Committee of the liorowhenua Rugby District Council was held on Tuesday, in the Wistaria rooms, htre being present:—Messrs W. C. Hannan (president), J. W. Procter (Ilui Mai), F. Meyers (Waikanae), W. S. ileyes (Foxton), S. Hooper (Weraroa), W. G. McLean (Paraparaumu). F. Robinson (Foxton), J. W. Eimmer (treasurer), G. Mitchell (Shannon), ,J. McGill (Otaki), J. Casey (secretary), M.. Winiata (senior selector), and 11. G. E. McDonald (Schools). Leave of absence was granted to Mr A. Richards (Shannon), owing to sickness. OFFENDITsG PLAYER GETS OFF LIGHTLY. Ma- Hooper stated that a player who was ordered off a fortnight ago had come in, that evening, from Poroutawhao, in order to appear before the •committee, but no report had come to hand. The chairman stated that, under Rule 24, in every ca.se where a player was ordered off by the referee during the progress of a game, the referee must forward within 4S hours a written statement setting out the circumstances. As the committee had not received a report, he did not think that they could take any action. It was too late now for a report, lie moved that no action bo taken in the case, but that the attention, of the Referees' Association be drawn to Rule 24, it having come to the notice of the committee that ,i player had been ordered off and the matter not reported.

Mr Heves seconded the motion

Mr Robinson said that the referee should be required to explain himself to the Association.

Mr Meyers urged an amendment of the by-laws so that any member of the management committee would have power to bring up such matters.

Mr McGiil said it had been ruled by the chairman that such matters could not be brought up by individual members, but that there had to be a complaint by a referee or a club, and that this would open the discussion. The Chairman: The referee has been at fault —not ourselves. Wo cannot deal with this player, under our rules.

The motion was carried. WANDERERS JUNIORS INSFEFIC

IENTLY CLAD

Mr S. Iliriiii, secretary of the Foxton club, wrote stating that, at a meeting of Ills committee ou Monday cvi'ii,ing, a complaint was ■made with regard to the way.in which some of the Wanderers juniors were dressed for their match against .Foxtou last Saturday. One or two were minus hoots and stockings, while .several were even playing in singlets. If this state of a flairs was going to be allowed to exist, he could assure (lie management committee, that, if was going to prove detrimental to the District Council as far as the. gate was concerned. JJ is Committee c.oiiid not understand how such a. well-known club as the Wanderers could allow a team to go on the (ield so dressed, and trusted that in future tin.' management committee would endeavour to prevent- a recurrence.

il The C!i;f!7'iii;ri) .said he did not think fj ihni rlic (■(iiiiicil could compel players io u'e.'ir boot.-; and stockings, but it could compel them to wear jersey;;. !.t \ was tile duty of the referee to report | to tiiu Council as to players being J wrongly dressed. Air ] I eyes described the unenviable experiences or! Mr Robinson and himself in being accosted by people in the streets of Foxton and asked why the Wanderers juniors had taken the field in such nondescript attire. He was informed that only eight of the fifteen members of the Visiting team had been f 'correctly clothed.

The -Chairman: There is nothing to stop you gentlemen from moving to hare a report from the -referee. If Wanderers are guilty, you can fine them for whatever jersevs tiwv wcvu short of.

Air Ileyes: If Wanderers juniors come again, they will get no gate, because, people will not turn out to see that sort of thing. The Chairman: The report must come from the referee.

It was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Procter, —'that the Referees' Association be informed that it had come to the notice of the Council that some of the Wanderers juniors were wrongly attired in their match against Foxton, and that the association ask the referee to furnish a report, on the matter, also as to whether the refcre- 1 himself was improperly dressed, it having been alleged that when he blew the whistle to start the game he was buttoned up in an overcoat. . ABSENCE OF REFEREES. Mr Hooper mentioned that, in the ma',ch between the Weraroa and Shannon juniors, at Levin on the referee did not turn up, and th ; duties had to be undertaken by the coach or the Shannon team. J't was decided that the matter, having been reported to the Chairman, be referred to the Referees' Association, with a request to obtain an explanation. Mr Meyers stated that, in the junior match against Waikanae at Paraparaumu on July b'lh, the referee did not arrive, and he had to control the game himself. 'This complaint was also referred to the Referees' Association for investigation and report. PROCEDURE REGARDING COMPLAINTS. .Mr Meyers asked for a ruling as to the powers of individual members of -the management committee to report on any improper practices, so that the committee could deal with them. If such powers were not in existence, ho suggested that the by-laws might be altered in that direction, and he asked whether such an alteration would bo a matter for the committee or for a general meeting. The Chairman said he Avas not in favour of delegating the powers, as suggested, to members of the committee'. He based his attitude on the laws of football. The referee had sole control of the game, a.xl also had sole control of the players. Mr Procter -said that, up till the present yea 1- , the management commit-' tee had* deadt cikec'ly with breaches coming to. it*'knowledge. The Chairman replied that he waa

prepared to abide by his rulings at the risk of vacating the chair if they did not meet with the approval of the majority of the members.

Mr.Hcyes said he was quite agreeable to abide by the 'Chairman's ruling, but the point was that. H did not appear right that the Chairman should have to give such a ruling. There should be a clause giving the Council power to bring up any matter. Mr Meyers: We maintain that the by-law is wrong, not your ruling. The Chairman: You have been questioning the laws of football. I am giving niy ruling under the rules of

Rugby, and under those rules the referee lias sole control of the players on the held. GENERAL SUSPENSIONS.

The following suspensions imposed by the Unions concerned, and confirmed by the X.Z. Rugby Union, and therefore made general were notilied to the committee by the Manawhenua Union:—T. Raureta, Ilawke's Buy, for three years from June -2nd, for striking a referee; W. Taiterson, Ashburton, .for the rest of the season, for using foul language; M. McDonald, Marlborough, for one month from .July Ist, for abusive language towards a member of his Union. A. P. Cherrington ha.! been suspended by the Nor:h Auckland Rugby Union for live years from August 17th, 1928, for deliberately jumping on a player. The sentence had been confirmed by the New Zealand Union and made general. FOXTON-WANDERERS DISPUTED MATCH. The Foxtoii club having appealed to the Manawhenna Union against the Council's rescission of the resolution grautirg a re-play of the senior match against Wanderers which took place on June Bth at Levin, the Union wrote stating that the appeal had been considered and it had been decided to obtain a report from this Council before roming to a conclusion. The Chairman moved and Mr Hooper seconded, that the secretary and Mr •Proctor (who had acted as chairman •of the meeting which sanctioned a replay) forward a report on the matter to the Manawhenua Union. Mr Robinson: When there was a notice to rescind the motion, should not the Foxton club have been notified io that, effect? The Chairman: I don't think'so. . Mr .Robinson: I got a ruling from a -lawyer, and he said that the Foxton secretary should be notified. flow otherwise would they know? The Chairman: If you had put i.i an appeal, it would have been communicated to them. ,

Mr Ileyes pointed out that the position now wis that with that game thrown in, Wanderers and Fox ton were on equal terms and they had to play off for the championship. Foxton did not want to win the competition on the appeal, but would rather win it straight out, as they thought they were going to do. lie asked if another game could be played between the two teams before the appeal was decided.

The Chairman: i think so; there is nothing to say you cannot [day it. Mr Robinson: i don't think the appeal will have much chance of success at the Union, because Mr ilannan gave it a fair deal there, and J explained it also, and it was thought; by two members that, as .Foxton did not have their appeal in in time, they had not A hope. iS'o more can come out of the report than Mr liannau and i. staled.

Tiio Chairman remarked that the Union did not look on the verbal statement of ;.hc ease as being in order, and required a written, report from the Council. Mr ileyes moved a.s an amendment, that the. Foxton appeal be withdrawn, provided that tiro club could recover their deposit. The Chairman: You can get your deposit back. There was no seconder for the amendment, and the motion was carried.

PRINCE OF WALKS CUD.

The Manawhenua Union reported that the question of a grant towards the expenses of assembling the Taihauauru Maori team to play against the Takerau team in the Prince of Wales Cup contest at Auckland on July 3Lst, had bum considered, and it had been decided to donate, £lO, a cheque for Avhich was forwarded to this committee, to be handed to Mr 11. McMillan, the local delegate to the Maori Advisory Board. JUNIOR REP. MATCHES. Advice was received from the Manawatu District Council that August 14th would be a date suitable to that body for the playing of tlm junior rep. game between Manawatu and llorowhenua, jat Palmcrstoh North. The Maiiawhenua juniors would play Wanganui on Avgust 24th, at Wanganui, and would play Wellington on August 31st at Levi u The date of August 14th was apijir; \ ed. The secretary stated that the junior trial match of H&rowhenua, Noith v. South, would take plr.ee or. August ,10ih, at Levin.

Air McDonald stated that the Wellington and llorowhenua school reps, (would probably meet on the same date, lat 1 p.m., thus providing a "eurtaincraiser."

The Wellington Rugby Union wrote agreeing to the proposal that their thirds should play llorowhenua juniors at Otaki, but stating that the suggested dates, July 27th or August 3rd. were not suitable, as these would seriously interfere with their competitions, and they did not think (hat they could send a team before the end of August at the very earliest.

The Chairman stated that the Wellington thirds only wished to play those of the llorowhenua juniors who were not required for the Maiiawhenua team, and he thought that August 24th might be a suitable date. It was decided to submit to the Wellington Union' the date suggested by ■the Chairman. KANGITIK.EI GAMES OFF. Intimation was received from the Rangitikci Union that they could not accept July 24th for a match against llorowhenua, as they would be unable to return the match before August 17th. They thanked this Council for its offer in send a team to play at Marten-. The .secretary reported that'he''had been i?i communication with Rangitikci bv telephone and had ascertained that they had too many rep. games

this. year. lie therefore though)- that the proposed match would have to be allowed to lapse. The committee concurred in this view. BEBBINGTON SHIELD CONDITIONS The Chairman reported that he had attended a conference with reference to the conditions of the Bobbingtou Shold, on Saturday. The rules were not altered, except to provide that the holders should not be compelled to accept a ehalleng.; for a game to lie played after the second week in August, This being at rheii discretion. .It was decided that an official book of record be kept with the shield, and Mr Glass was going to send a leather one. With regard to tiie miniature shields, it was agreed that the winners of a challenge should have their Avin thus recorded on ■the trophy; this did not entitle the defenders to do' the same in the event of tneir retaining the shield. CHAMPIONSHIP FiNAL. Mr Procter moved that the final for the senior championship, between Wanderers and Foxton, be played on Sat -unlay, at Levin, and that the charge for admission be Is each for ladies or gentlemen and (id extra to the grandstand. Air McGill seconded the motion. .Mr Mitchell moved as an amendment, that the match be played at Shannon, "on a neutral ground." There was no seconder. Mr Heyes said that, personally, he would like to see the game played in Foxton. The Chairman: I think there is a minutj ia the book with reference to the playing of finals in Levin, but probably that only applies to the year in which it was recorded.

Mr Winiata put in a strong plea for the holding of the contest .in Levin, Avhich he described as the centre of the district's football. This season no important matches had been played at Levin; the rep. matches had been played at Shannon, Otaki and Foxton. Now it was only fair that this final should take place at Levin. Mr Winiata added that there was no stand to provide shelter in the event of wet weather at Foxton or Shannon, whereas at Levin something :ike three hundred people could be provided for in this respect. If the match wvvf played at Levin, the attendance would be as good as they would get for a rep. game.

A further amendment was moved by Mr Robinson —namely, that the match be piaved at Foxton. This was seconded by'Mr Heyes. Mr McGill said he would like to see the game played at Otaki, but delegates should vote for the ground where the best gate would bo realised; and if LoA"iu was going to show the best profit, then tlu gain" should bo played there. The amendment in favour of Foxton was lost, only the two Foxton delegates voting for it, and the motion to play in Levin was carried.

Mr Robinson: The Foxton club has travelled several times to different matches, and I think we should get some help. It is a big thing tr ask a team io travel llnac times running.

The Chairman: Wo would In. 1 laying down a nreccdent. What about .souk? or tiioso siuwioi'tors (if vour.s over Hioro.' COMJ'NG EVENTS.

Entries of senior teams in the Nash Cup L-ompefition r.'cvt' received from the Shannon, Otaki, 11 ui Mai, Wanderers and Foxton dubs. The iirst round, to be played cm August 'Avd, was drawn, as follows: —Otaki v. llui -Mai, at Otaki; Wanderers v. Shannon, at Levin; Eoxton a bye. Tin 1 second round wi!r he played On August 10th, bu| at Levin the fixture will he the junior trial match, North v. South. Mr T. Watson, of Shannon, was appointed selector of:' tin; Manawhoiiua junior team.

Before the meeting concluded, Mr McDonald who is leaving at the end of the month to become first assistant master at the South Wellington School, tendered his resignation and thanked the committee for its assistance lo the llorowhenua Primary Schools Rugby competition fund, lie also I hanked the Chairman (Mr llannan) for the very generous way in which he had met the speaker's requests on behalf of school football. Mr McDonald announced that Mr 11. J. Jones would be his successor as schools delegate to the Council.

The Chairman thanked Mr McDonald for his expressions of gratitude, and said that i'vory member of the Council wished to foster school football, knoAving that it was in good hands, lie moved that the Council record its regret at the departure from the district and from the management committee of Mr McDonald.

Mr Procter seconded the motion, and spoke with pleasuie of his association with .Mr McDonald in the management, of school football. The motion was tin i: carried by acclamation. After the meeting, Mr 'McDonald was entertained at a little social gathering and made the recipient of presentations. A report of the proceedings appears elsewhere.