NEW COMMITTEE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 13 June 1939, Page 6

NEW COMMITTEE

: CLASSIFICATION OF RUGBY PLAYERS NELSON UNION’S APPOINTMENT TO COMPLETE WORK ALREADY BEGUN The matter of the appointment of another special classification committee to replace the committee which resigned last week, came before the management committee of the Nelson Rugby Union last evening. After some discussion a new committee was appointed. Mr R. Brownlie moved that a committee be set up to view the players in the various grades and report back to the union; and that the union at its last meeting this season consider the players named by the committee and grade them then into higher grades as considered necessary. Next year if these players wanted to play in the same grade as they did this year they would have to apply for reinstatement Mr H. McPherson seconded the motion stating that he did not think the clubs should oc upset at this juncture. Mr T. Mahoney moved an amendment that a special classification committee be set up with the same powers as the original committee.

“DODGING THE ISSUE” Mr W. A. Smith seconded the amendment, stating that he considered it absurd to try to classify players at the end of one season for the next. The motion seemed to ask the union to dodge the issue. The union had decided at the start of the season to have a classification committee. The speaker still believed that the union should have such a committee, and that it should function. Messrs A. Simson, J. Sullivan and H. Richardson also supported the amendment. Mr C. Inwood, who also supported the amendment, referred to the fact that the Union had “already put two of his club’s players on the bank.” It would not be fair to leave the classification job half-done. Mr Brownlie remarked that the Pirate Club seemed to be the one that would be affected most. If five or six of this club’s players were reclassified to a higher grade, as it had been suggested by the resigned committee was probable, then an equal number of players would have to come up to junior from third grade, which would leave a big hole. Next year Pirates would be applying to be admitted to senior grade and if the motion were carried the matter would automatically be cleared up as far as Pirates were concerned. Mr Inwood pointed out that the fact remained that if the motion were passed the Pirate Club would remain intact, while his own club. Hira, would suffer, as they had already been dealt with. WEIGHT AND AGE

The president. Mr A. H. Crawley, referring to the question of the functioning of a classification committee, said that it seemed that its duties were concerned mainly with the weight and age of players. If that were so it seemed almost as if the union should recommend to next year’s executive that they reintroduce the weight and age qualifications. If another committee were set up the union’s only instruction was that they view the players, reclassify them to the best, of their ability and make recommendations to the union. Mr Richardson said that it seemed that the motion was asking the union to evade its responsibilities this year. The Union had a job to do, for it was obvious there were players in some clubs requiring regrading. Tne amendment was carried on the voices. The, two members present of the previous committee declined renomination. Messrs W. A. Smith, R. Brownlie and C. Inwood were appointed the classification committee, Mr Smith to be convener.