PEOPLE’S COLUMN

Northern Advocate, 13 October 1928, Page 8

PEOPLE’S COLUMN

[Our- columns are open to the‘public for the discussion of matters of public concern. We invite correspondence, but do not identify ourselves with the views expressed by our correspondents. Letters must be written in ink and on one side of the paper only. The real name ami address of the writer must be attached to a . letter, not necessarily for publication, but as a mark of good faith. —Ed.].

THE LEAGUE FLAME

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —As “The League Flame,” kindled in the coal mines of Hiknrangi and according to Mr Hahmill, threatening to envelop the north, appears to bo getting a bit out of hand, it is apparent that a little; water is necessary to confine the destructive clement to within the bounds of fair play. It is not my intention to endeavour to quench the flame, but to refute the erroneous statements attributed to Messrs Hammill and Taylor and published in the Auckland “'Star” and “Northern Advocate” respectively. Both these gentlemen assert that it is the intention of several clubs, among w’hich is included the Onerahi Rugby Union Club, to go over to League next season. It is to bo hoped, for the reputation of the game, - that the authority for these statements concerning, the other clubs is based on firmer grounds than that of Onerahi, ah ; to, my/ certain : knowledge the question of going over to League has never been considered at any meeting of my club' subsequent to the date when a secret ballot was taken among the players some months ago to decide whether or no the. club go over to League. There is no necessity to traverse the steps that led up to the ballot, suffice it to say that the result of the ballot was a block vote in favour of adhering to the Eugby Union.- It is true that one of our members has been induced to play League, butNmo member does not constitute a club, and we have not lost: hope of seeing this player back in our ranks again next season. The future of my club depends on the decision reached at tile next annual general meeting, and, whether it be Eugby Union or . League, I hope the boys stick together, for our little community is too small to permit of a division in its ranks. What I particularly resent is the buttonholing of individual members of the clubs of one code to the detriment of the other. In conclusion, I would like to state for the information of outside clubs that Onerahi is still loyal to the Union code in spite of the bad spin meted out by the Management Committee during the past season. However, we hope to rectify the matter in this respect at the next annual meeting of the W.R.U. In the meantime, we have only observed a little smoke in the dim distance, but where there is smoke there is assuredly a flame not far distant, and it is incumbent on the W.R.U. -to put their firefighting appliances in order, or they w T ill assuredly find themselves burnt out in the near future. I am, etc., EDWARD L. WHIMP. President Onerahi Rugby Football Club. 12/10/28.