NARU Chairman Appeals For Broad – Mindedness, Loyalty

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1949, Page 3

NARU Chairman Appeals For Broad - Mindedness, Loyalty

AN appeal for broacl-mindedness and loyalty was made by the chairman (Mr D. K. Ross) to delegates to the monthly meeting of the NARU management committee in Whangarei last night. ... The appeal was provoked by press reports of criticisms of the parent body’s administratioft made by the Northern Wairoa sub-union. . These were an aftermath of the comrhittee’s decision at its last meeting to centralise all major representative games this season at Whangarei

“The management committee's business,’’ Mr Ross said, is the administration of Northland football, whether it be played in Te Hapua or Puhoi. We must work in the interests of the majority. “The committee comprises 15 members representing nine sub-unions, referees, primary schools and Maoris, it can be only as efficient as the delega**lf they come to the meeting with the idea of getting something for their sub-union or bust, the NARU will get nowhere. “Such delegates should say to themselves: ‘I am narrow-minded and cannot get what I want. My sub-union should get someone else who is interested in Northland football. At the last meeting, Mr Ross went on, a decision was made on the motion of the Otamatea and Rodney delegates concerning the venue of representative fixtures. The only opposition to this decision came from the Northern Wairoa delegate. INCORRECT STATEMENTS

"We can provide a good field,” he said, “and could ensure a good gate.” He instanced the £4OO gate for the Northland-Taranaki match, which was played on a Wednesday. Dargaville could also provide the necessary accommodation. Mr Ross then read a press report of a Northern Wairoa union meeting, which threatened to protest to the NZRU if the NARU did not accede to its request. THREATS AGAINST NARU He asked the nature of this protest. Mr Walden: The protest would go through the NARU. Mr Ross: No sub-union has the divine right to be the venue of the representative games. It is decided by a majority vote of delegates. It cannot be decided any other way. When a sub-union is beaten on a motion, it handles the matter in a bad way when it threatens direct action against the NARU. Mr Walden’s approach tonight is much better, but Northern Waroa starts off under a handicap as a result of its recent attitude. Mr Corr: They have threatened to seek other control if no game is allocated to them. Finance is the major consideration in arranging the venue of the big matches. Mr Simpson: After hearing the gate for the Taranaki match and the delegate’s report that Dargaville can provide the accommodation, I am inclined to favour the application. I lived in Northern Wairoa for several years and know the following Rugby enjoys there. NOT SUPPORTED

The chairman then read a press report of a subsequent meeting of the Northern Wairoa sub-union in which it was alleged that attendance at the management committee meetings was only a waste of time. “If the report was based on fact, it would be all right,” Mr Ross said. Reports to sub-unions should be made by delegates in fairness to everybody and without taint. Delegates owed just as much loyalty to the management committee as to them subunion. Mr Ross referred to Northern Wairoa allegations of back-door methods in handling out information. “The NARU has a difficult job,” he said, “and Northern Wairoa is making that job more difficult. “We seek constructive criticism, but we do not likfe purely destructive criticism.” APOLOGY SOUGHT The secretary (Mr C. J. Dent) took the Northern Wairoa secretary (Mr J. R. Cook) to task for alleging back-door methods in informing sub-unions of business to be dealt with by the NARU management committee. “Mr Cook’s remark was uncalled for,” he said, "and unless he can substantiate it, he should withdraw it and make an unqualified apology.” Every sub-union and every delegate to the NARU management committee received copies of the agenda for the last meeting a week before the meeting was held, and Mr Cook and the Northern Wairoa delegate (Mr P. Walden) attended the meeting with a scheme concerning the zoning of the Harding Shield competition. The president (Mr R. G. Murdoch) sympathised with the Northern Wairoa Union, many of whose officials, he said, had had. very little experience in Rugby administration. He was. glad Mr Ross had brought the matter up to prove that there was no such thing as back-door methods. Mr Murdoch said the feeling that the NARU was anti-Northern Wairoa had persisted in Dargaville and district for many years. WAIROA DISAPPOINTED Northern Wairoa had always had good treatment. The majority must rule on the NARU, as in all organisations. Mr Walden said the Northern Wairoa union was very disappointed at not getting a representative game this season.

Mr Ross: The mid-week fixtures this season are against Auckland and Otago, and these will draw as big a gate as a Saturday game. Messrs S. Hartnell (Rodney), J t Dotchin (Hokianga), J. Cowi i (Mangonui), and H. Worthington <Ota matea) favoured Whangare'i as the venue of all big matches. “Mangonui sometimes feels that it would like a game,'' Mr Cowie said, “but we must take a broad view.” Mr Murdoch: My policy is to spread the games around the North. Mr Worthing: Dargaville is geographically unsuitable to travelling teams, which prefer to go to the centre of a union. Mr R. Armitage (Whangarei): With reasonable weather, Whangarei could double a Dargaville gate. > He referred to jealousies which entered into the consideration of these matters. Mr Ross moved an amendment that the matter be deferred until the next meeting. PREFER WHANGAREI “That will give us time,” he said, “to dismiss the thoughts of threats which were made by Northern Wairoa. If I voted tonight I would have no option but to confirm the committee’s previous decision to play all games in Whangarei.” Mr Cowie asked what the visiting teams would think of a change in venue. Mr Ross: From my experience at NZRU annual meetings in Wellington, I know that visiting unions expect to play in Whangarei. If we decide that the games are to be played outside Whangarei, these teams will have to abide by our decision, but it may affect our position in the future. We cannot get the Southland team to come even to Whangarei. Mr Ross added that for the past three years there had been a general feeling in the NARU that all major games should be played in Whangarei. His amendment was carried without dissent.

Clubs had held indignation meetings. Mr Ross: What we would like to hear is an explanation of the incorrect statements made by the Northern Wairoa Union. Mr Walden: There seems to be a misunderstanding between the NARU secretary and the Northern Wairoa secretary. Mr Ross: There has been no misunderstanding. The zoning of the Harding Shield was discussed in general business at the annual meeting, and delegates were asked to submit opinions to the next meeting of the management committee. Mr D. B. Simpson (Whangaroa) moved that the Northern Wairoa Union be asked to substantiate its statements or publicly withdraw them and apologise to the NARU secretary. Mr Ross: I do not think it is necessary to place a motion on the books. SUB-UNIONS’ FAULT Mr A. E. J. Corr (Bay of Islands): The fault lies with the sub-unions in not appointing delegates who understand the NARU’s business and its setup. Mr Ross: The majority must rule. If the majority make a certain decision, sub-unions which are displeased should take it. Mr L. G. Miller (Referees) t The Auckland Colts are playing in Uargaville. That was conveniently forgotten by the Northern Wairoa Union. Mr Ross: An annual tour of Nor 11 land sub-unions by an Auck.and teal, is also being arranged. Later in the meeting standing orders were suspended to allow a notice of motion from Northern Wairoa seeking to rescind the previous decision to play all representative games in Whangarei to be discussed. The motion also asked that at least one big game be played in Dargaville. It was put by Mr Walden, and seconded by Mr Murdoch. Mr Walden referred to the fact that Northern Wairoa was 100 per. cent for Rugby, but was afraid of an .encroachment by Rugby League.

HARDING SHIELD Northern Wairoa requested that teams tieing for first place in the Harding Shield zone competitions be allowed to challenge the holders for the trophy. It was decided to review the rules should this position arise. The north-zone winner is to play the holder on August 20 and the winner will play the top south-zone team on August 27. Whangaroa’s application - to change its representative colours from maroon to royal blue was granted. The Ling trophy was allocated to a competition among district high schools in the northern sub-unions. The emergency committee Is to draft rules. Mr Ross indicated that the parent body would investigate the question of the formation of a new sub-union, based on Kaikohe, when sufficiently strong grounds were brought forward to justify the move. BRAKE, POWELL SHIELDS'”" Five challenges were received for the Brake Shield, held by North Hokianga, and six for the Powell Shield, held by Mangonui. The draws for order of playing resulted:— Brake Shield: Northern Wairoa, Bay of Islands, Otamatea, Mangonui, Whangarei. The first match will be played on July 23. Powell Shield: Whangarop, Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Rodney, Northern Wairoa, North Hokianga. The first match is on July 9. Bay of Islands was the only challenger for the fourth-grade shield and this match will be played on a date suitable to the Bay and to the holders, Whangarei. Team managers for the MaoriPakeha match at Kaikohe on July 16 are Mr W. P. Barclay (Maori) and Mr Corr (Pakeha).

Brake Shield: Northern Wairoa, Bay of Islands, Otamatea, Mangonui, Whangarei. The first match will be played on July 23. Powell Shield: Whangarop, Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Rodney, Northern Wairoa, North Hokianga. The first match is on July 9.