FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1925, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

REPLACING INJURED PLAYERS. WELLINGTON, April 20. in one of the senior Rugby matches on Saturday, the replacement of players was not permitted, this decision resulting from a. suggestion by Al. Xieholls, captain of the Petone team. During tho progress of the piny otic of the "Wellington players met with uii injury which prevented him from returning to tile field after halftime, and in consequence Wellington were a man short throughout the second half of the game with Petone. Tho question of replacements was under discussion at the last meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union’s Management Committee, and the outcome was that Mr G. F. AY. Jackson gave notice at the next meeting: “‘That there be no replacement of players in tho second spoil.” It is felt by some members of the Rugby Union that the calls for emergencies to take the field during the progress of the games lias been overdone at times, and that the replacements have conic- to he accepted as a rule instead of a matter of agreement between eap'tnius. On Saturday the Wellington captain agreed to the suggestion by M. Xieholls, the Petone captain. -MAORI “ALL BLACKS.” MINISTERIAL ADVICE. WELLINGTON, .April 20. AYlieu interviewed; to-day in regard to '‘Comments in which reference was made to certain remarks (erroneously attibuted to him) addressed to Nepia and Paewai, the Maori members oi the 192-1 All Blacks team, at a gathering held at Wairoa recently, the HOll J- G. Coates. Minister of Native Affairs said : “I was greatly surprised when this matter was brought under my notice to-day. I am noi in the habit of making rash promises as I am alleged to have made when welcoming these two woimg men hack into the midst of their tribe (Ngati Kahitngunu). I. as Native MRiister, advised them seriously 10 j consider the question of settling down to a life of iisqfui eif/.euship now that they had had a. taste of the sporting life’in other parts of the world, and 1 expressed a hope that ii at any time mV* advice wit.s of any use to them they could have it for the asking. Advice is what I promt- ed to give, and not anything within my power to give.” “As i’or the wild statement made that returned soldiers have been reduced to starvation because the Government gave them no help. I have nothing to say, because the returned soldiers t hemselves and l heir _ associations already know what the Government has done and is doing to help them.”