Northern Wairoa Attitude To Provincial Matches

Northern Advocate, 2 June 1939, Page 10

Northern Wairoa Attitude To Provincial Matches

DARGAVILLE. This Day

The allocation of representative matches in North Auckland was again the subject of severe criticism at the weekly meeting of the Northern Wairoa Rugby Union’s management committee.

It was decided to approach delegates of all North Auckland sub unions, explaining the position, and asking for their earnest support in the event of a special meeting of the North Auckland Union being held for this purpose.

Mr W. Montgomery, of Dargaville, a former president of the Northern Wairoa Union and one who has been closely associated with the body for many years, attended the meeting and expressed the opinion that the union

was not receiving fair treatment in regard to the allocation of the matches. Northern Wairoa Union when funds were being raised to send ,a North Auckland team on tour, and he considered the Northern Wairoa Union’s contribution had exceeded the total amount raised by the other sub-unions. Should Be Divided

As the tour had been arranged with the object of securing matches with strong southern teams. Mr Montgomery thought that return matches should be divided among the sub unions which had assisted. He added that members of the public. with whom lie had been in touch, had expressed dissatisfaction at the position and he thought that unless matches wore distributed more in the North much public suporl would be lost.

“We have always had to go ‘cap in hand’ when anything had been required from the North Auckland Union, and I think the administration is altogether wrong.” Mr Montgomery said. “The fact that a gate of £l5O with admission at 1/0 during a North Auckland versus Auckland match was considered proof that large enough gates could be realised by the Northern Wairoa Union to warrant the holding of

repi’esentativc football games at Dargaville.’' Not Going to be Dropped Mr B. L. Gould assured Mr Montgomery that the Northern Wairoa Union was not going to let the question drop and he stated that when the North Auckland delegates had visited Dargavillc recently they had been convinced that the Northern Wairoa Union was far from satisfied with the position. Mr L. A. A. Trotter, of Ruawai. considered the administration of the North Auckland Union was open to criticism and that an agenda paper should be issued to sub unions before all meetings, stating clearly what business was to be discussed. By that means only could delegates convey the true feelings of their unions to the meetings, he considered. It was decided that the president. Mr F. C. Gould, should communicate with delegates of all the sub unions and explain the position, while a letter is also to be sent to each sub-union, setting out the facts and asking for co operation.