THE HANGATIKI AFFAIR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4410, 27 June 1933, Page 5

THE HANGATIKI AFFAIR.

(To the Editor). Sir, —The incident at Hangatiki the other Saturday, I think most of the followers of the game of Rubgy in this district will agree, is one in which it would be well to take stern measures to ensure, once and for all, that such an affair will not. occur again on the grounds controlled by the Ma'niapoto Sub-Union. However, sir, in your Saturday's issue I see that only three years' suspension has been the penalty imposed in each case, while the principal offender has been warned off playing fields for a similar term. In view of the circumstances of the affair, and the firsthand evidence that the officials of the Rugby Union had of the uncertainty of the temper of the crowd, surely the penalties imposed in each case, and especially in the case of the principal offender, are very light. Of course, at the Union meeting several factors, evidently accepted as mitigating, were aired. The principal offender was carried away by the excitement of what he considered the unfairness of the referee's decisions; rumours of hard play before the match; certain sections not satisfied with the Te Kuiti Club having an undue share in the management of the Union's affairs; one of the offenders, and for a very similar offence, had had his sentence imposed by this Sub-Union very considerably commuted some years back, and so on. But are these mitigating? The punishment should have an effect in two ways, the actual punishment of the offender and the ensuring that in future he will not be in a position to repeat his offence, and also the example given to others to ensure that they, too, will not repeat it. The first case has been met by the Union as far as the main delinquent is concerned, in that the three years will see the end of his undoubtedly brilliant career as a footballer, but has the second? The Union should take a firm stand to ensure that such excitement over the referee's decision shall not occur again. The very fact that it has happened after such a light sentence was imposed in the past on one of the three is surely sufficient reason for such a stand. In the interest of Rugby both the crowd and players should be fully controlled by the referee, and any dispute as to his decisions and so on, if not referred to the proper quarter and made in the proper manner, should be firmly dealt with so as to keep that so necessary control.—l am, etc., LITTLE ERIC.