MANNING'S CASE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 113, 11 May 1909, Page 5

MANNING'S CASE.

GENERAL MEETING OF CENTRAL CLUB.

A general meeting of the Central Football Club was held last evening at the Royal Hotel, «the President (Mr J. McLauchlan) presiding, and there were a large number of members present. The President pointed out that the meeting was called with the object of discussing the .recent action of the Mairlboirough Rugby Union in refusing 'the captain of the club (C. Manning) permission to play for the Central Club, notwithstanding the_ fact that he was and had been, a resident of the club's district on and before the annual meeting of the Union. The question of Manning's having been re-graded the year previously was referred to, and Mr Strickland explained that the Union had acted wrongly in tre-grading the playea- oai that occasion. He also stated that even though, the Union had acted unwisely, the re-grading of Manning was only •for one year, andl the Union could in no way justify its error of judgment in 1908 by endorsing that ..decision in 1909. It was by no, means fair or (reasonable of the Union to act as it had. If the matter was taken, before the New Zealand Rugby- Union the minute on the books of the Union would go against that body, and the decision would unquestionably be in favor of the Central Club. In the interest of the game dt was desirable that such a state of affaire should not be permitted to exist, andi ithe sooner that wrong was righted! (the better it would be for the game as> a whole in the Marlborough province. Several members, referred to the unfairness which characterised the action of the Rugby Union, and more than once during the meeting individual members suggested that the Club withdraw from all competitions as a, protest against the Union's action-, which they considered was not only in contravention to the laws of that body, but also unjust and illegitimate. After the matter had) been fully discussed, Mr Shugar proposed, the following resolution: "That the' club's delegate to the Union, Ma- Strickland, be instructed to give notice, at-the meeting of the Union on Tuesday evening that he would at the next,meeting of the Union move that the motion -passed at a, recent meeting of thei Union, to the effect that C. Manning be giraded to play for the Moutere;-Club during the present season, and .for all time that he is ia resident of the Marlborough province, be rescinded." Mr C. Hegglun seconded th© motion, which was carried unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.