RUGBY UNION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 120, 19 May 1909, Page 7

RUGBY UNION.

1 The usual weekly meeting of tho above body was last night attended by Messrs J. J. Corry (Chairman), D. lvic.Callum, P. O'Dwyer, J. O'Dyyer, G. Griffiths, J. Morrison, A. Ji. Tnonison, J. O'Leary, E. S. Hylton (Secretary) and J. Strickland. GRANT BEFORE THE UNION. Mr J. Grant appeared before the Union,, in response to the minute standing on the books that he report himself to the Union for alleged misconduct at Auckland during the Ran- ■ furly Shield match. . , The President asked for an explanation why Grant did not attend before to answer the charge. Mr .Grant said that he saw no reason why he should attend when he was wrongly blamed. He could not run away from his work to attend a meeting then. He wanted to be al- 1 lowed to play football. Mr Morrison said he knew that Grant was at the time working day and night and could not possibly'get

in to the meeting. The Chairman: said Grant was disqualified during the pleasure of the Union 'because he. did not appear before the Union.

In answer to the Chairman Mr ,Grant said that what had been reported by Mr Mowat was wrong. He was sorry that Mr Mowat was not. present. The Chairman remarked on the Renwick case and Grant said in answer: "Why did the Union then let me go to Auckland."" Grant admitted his conduct on the foad to Auckland was ■not so good as it might have been. The Chairman read Mr Mowat? s report ■ about .Grant, , and Grant denied the allegations made in the report, but admitted' being some trouble on the tour. ■ I ' ■/

Grant having left the room the Chairman said that they would have to consider that the Union had sent Grant away, when, he had previously been reported. As to Grant not appearing Mr Morrison had satisfactorily explained that. Mr Hylton suggested suspension, if the man ha# doneianything which was disgraceful to the team on tour. Mr Morrison pointed out ithe sentence was, that Grant be censured, and he was suspended so long as' he failed to come before the Union. The Chairman pointed out _that the punishment was disqualification from playing in representative matches and that he be severely censured. " Mr Hylton said • that the question then was to consider Grant's action in not taking notice of the Union's let,ters. , ' - ■,-. : '• ■. ! . ■■ ' • ■ .' , The Chairman moved that the explanation ! tendered by Mr Morrison be accepted, and the disqualification he withdrawn. ; - The motion was carried. Mr Grant was then called'in and severely censured by the Chairman; I who also pointed out that if he, was again called before the Union he would have to, come or send an ! apology. ■ \This closed the incident. . . .'•■•.' MANNING'S CASE. ~

Mr J. Strickland, moved his motion to the effect that the motion passed making it compulsory for Manning to play for no other club than.Moutere be rescinded. In speakine; to the motion " Mr Strickland said that Manning was a resident of Central district, and should' be regraded. He thought the ; motion passed by \the Union wrong. ' Mr Morrison seconded. He looked on the motion passed as out ( of order, and a distinct, breach of the rules. Manning ; was only regraded for the one year, and the, season having ended the transfer expired, and to play for Moutere this year Manning would t have to apply again. Mr Thomson said he was under the impression that the minute was not forthcoming of the motion passed last year:' He:was now of the opinion that the Union was wrong in passing the resolution! but he thought Manning, should have mad© some expression of regret and withdrawn his previous allegation against th© Central Club made last year. If Manning did not play for Central he could not play for. Moutere or any other club. At the last meeting he had voted in error, and if h© had known as much as he did now he would not have voted as h© did.

He supported the /motion Mr P. O'Dwyer said ithey, had-noth-ing before the Union to say who Man r ning wished to play for; Mr J. O'Dwyer said that if they were going to abide by the rules, the motionf passed at the previous meeting was wrong. He agreed with Mr Thomson. , Mr O'Leary thought that Manning should come before the Union and explain the matters between himself and the Central Club, so that they might be sure that nothing of the trouble was left. Manning told the Moutere secretary that he would play for Moutere. Mr P. O'Dwyer said that Manning did tell Moutere players that he would play for Moutere. Mr Hylton pointed out that until the motion was rescinded Manning could not play for Central. It did not matter^ what Manning said to other players. Mr Geo> Griffith's contribution to the discussion was to the effect that the Chairman ruled that the Union must have a unanimous vote. In answer to a remark of the Chairman Mr Griffiths said that the ruling was not in the minute book like a lot more of his rulings. Mr Corry rose and said he would n6t allow anyone to speak to the Chair in that way. He made no such ruling; the four-fifths majority , rule was always in force. He appealed to the members present if he was not correct in saying that only nine members were present on the particular night the motion was put. Mr Grimons went over to the table and laid his hand upon the minute book, but the Chairman told him to leave the book alone. Mr Co*rry, continuing, said that it was pointed out at that meeting that as one member was absent they could not get' the iWquir^d four-fifths majority. He appealed to the members who1 were present that night if that was not so. Some of the members in the roqm said that was so. The Chairman went on to say that there had been a number of facts stated, especially by Mr Griffiths, who possibly knew all about it because he was not there. The rule of domicile was always on the books. He had a perfect recollection of the circumstances^ and he was sure that the Union had not meant that Manning would only be re-graded for one season. If Manning had happened to be a resident of Awatere and wanted to play there; or of Opawa district and wanted to play there; he would have no objection. But the Central Club, for some reason, did not want Manning, and he was re-graded to the Moutere, so that his services would not be lost to the province. Now the

Central delegate came to the Union and said that the ;grave reasons are done away with, and the Central Olub want Manning back. He (the Chairman) qui.e willing to give them Manning, but he could not do so. They could not go against a rule passed by four-fifths majority of the niembers.

Mr Stricklanu said that if the motion had not been "for the season only, neither he or Mr Griffiths would have voted for it, and they would not have obtained the requisite four-fifths majority. He was considering the Union iri jthe matter of Shield matters.

On the motion being put it was carried by seven to three. THREATENING LANGUAGE. Two players were reported for using threatening language against the -referee .in the Waitohi v f Central B match. ■ It was resolved that the two players and referee appear before the Union at their next meeting. REFEREES. A communication was received from the Referees' Association stating that the referees had not received their expenses for travelling last year, and they did not feel disposed to travel this year without payment of expenses. I The Chairman then read out a list iof small accounts, including the Re- ; ferees' account, to the amount of £16 J. 14s 6d, which were passed for payj ment. The Secretary was instructed also to pay such small accounts as might encrue out of money in hand. | THAT ALLOCATION. The Chairman did not see, when Marlborough "sent nine men to Nelson to play the English team they should only get £20,, while the Nelson Union, got £30. Buller got £40, and it was not fair that Marlborough got so little. V A REMISSION. , The application to; recommend the New Zealand Union to remove the disqualification against H. Schwass, who was disqualified two years ago by the Union, was agreed to. SECRETARY'S RESIGNATION.

The Secretary requested' that the Union accept his resignation. It was, futile to think of going on with the position. The Chairman said he had seen all the members of the Board except one, and all he'had seen hafl no objection to Mr Hylton keeping on the position. Mr Hylton said it was his wish that his resignation be accepted, but he would consent to entry on till the next meeting. GENERAL. ; It was decided to ask" the Central Club for their reason for playing Simmonds and Sowman against Moutere last Saturday. . Mr Morrison moved—Pending this explanation the two players. nanWd be allowed to play for Central on. the coming Saturday. • Mr P. O'Dwyer seconded. After discussion the Chairman said he would not''agree to take/ the mo~ iion. Mi- Morrison was asking the Union to break its own rules.

Eventually the Chairman, accepted the motion, which, on being put, was lost. , i Mr Morrison moved that the Moutejre Club show cause why they, played Skelley and Uttley orf Saturday: Mr Strickland seconded, and th©motion was carried. Mr P. O'Dwyer, moved that th© Awatere Club be asked to show cause, why they played J. Casey and J. Costello; on Saturday. , , .Mr J. O'Dwyer seconded, and the motion was carried. t .Mr Strickland • moved that these players stand down until the next meeting. , . ..:' l^tr Thomson seconded, and the mo-t-iori was carried. . - i