A RUGBY RUMOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6871, 15 July 1909, Page 9

A RUGBY RUMOUR

ALLEGED PROFESSIONALISM. SPECTATORS? LANGUAGE. TWO WARNED OFF ALL GROUNDS. The complaint made h$- the Tramway. Football Club against d spectator for having accused oncl of fits - piaycrs of taking money for playing, and also for Having allegedly 'used most objectionable language to tne pnvS'er, was investigated oy the Wellington Rugby Union fast evening. / THE EVIDENCE. E. 11. Minnie/ secretary -of the Tramway Uuo, suicj' tue"-complaint hud been ..aide on ocfudT ,of the club. O. FaicJxuit-s#m as uih xramway men were going off tne neid at half-time tne player concerned was accosted oy tno opeouitor eouxinaiiied oi, anu very OOscene language was ; used toward* him. it was most disgrace:ui, and uxeiy pule. Laujes in me stand must nave Heard tne language, it seemed as n seme private matter had caused tho

D. peoples corroborated the allegation tiuit the spectator na d used obscene language—a variety oi it —towards tno player, The spectator seemed to uo uuaer the innuenoe oi minor. j. o ouinv i*u, .u memuer o± the union, oaid ne jiuu separacea uie two men. x'ue speotiuor uesiieu to ngne tue player. v\ . ti. Mmoot, secretary oi tue union, Saul soiiie pretty lugix worUs were used, uuu Oiiu language. A DENIAL. G, Perkinsoif. captain of ti© Tramways team, uepdsecl to the spectator having used niiiiy language towards trio piayer in particular, and the whole of the team in general, He denied ue tiiiegtit-iou uui me player Had received from cue Tramway Ciuu. ;ui iiUrns:'. would it oe a surprise to you to knoW taut the piuyer iiad admitted haying received money?—it itouid. ■ , you have not paid him any money at a ilr —wo; not a penny.’ Mr Mmme kuiti, ao iar as he kne\s, no menioer of tup Oiuo nad been pa.d. tor pj.ayuig. ‘ , Air I'aicuatt,' president of the Recreation and j.*oovuaii L/iao, said tiie allegation as to nibney being given to the player came a surprise to Him. he absolutely denied tnat any money had oeen given to the player by the club. Ji© knew that 'the piuyer had. an application in to get into the tram eerivir O’Sullivan: Would it be possible for any olhcial to pay him money without you knowing it r —i do not th/nk that would be possible.' The Recreation Ohio would not have any influence in getting a man into the tram service. THE SPECTATOR'S CASE. The spectator ' complained of admitted having.-' spoken to the player about some alleged scandal be had cnculated. Members of the tramway service surrounded the spectator,, and one of them had offered to tight him. He admitted having used bad language, ooiu to" the piayer and the whole team. Mr Jburnsj \Vhat accusation is it you made about the piayer receiving moueyr—i accuse him now. Dave you any. witnesses to prove it?— "Yes. Ten.'” Witness said the player had admitted to him having received two sovereigns from the Tramway team. vVitness had’ ridiculed the idea ot him receiving the money, and the piayer had gone up to his room and brought down in© money, he alleged that one of the players had 'given him the money, and unit it nad’come out of the emu s recreation fund, moreover, he could prove that the piuyer had ottered to make a net of £2 in-'the presence of witnesses uith a man ; - named Marshall that he nad got the; St from the dub. Members of tiie club had oltered various explanations to him as to how the player uud got thd money. ANOTHER DENIAL.

Mr Perkinson said-it was a lie that the player had received the money from one of the club’s memoers through the Recreation! Club’s funds. He absolutely denied this. The spectator gave the names of several witnesses who, he said, could prove Liiat they saw tne and nearu the player admit having received the money irom another player, to play for the Tramway Club, through tne Recreatiou Club’S; 1 funds; also tnat he had been promised a permanent job in the tramuy service within two weeks’ time. Mr ’Minilie said it any money had been paid to the piayer it would have to have •ieeu voted at a general meeting of mumpers. . No such meeting Uad ueen Ueid. Mr Pntcliatt. said the club would be pleased to produce any books or papers ,uat might oe desired by the uuiou. THE ALLEGED PAYMENT. ; One witness said the player concerned pad in h.s presence said no received -t-2 ,rdm one oi tne tiamway players lor nav* Bag played lor tnat team. Tne money i.jis, it was aaegcu, received on the day wind! CH© piayer took, p-urt in cue .oaten under uot.ee, ana tne player tur.uer stated tnat Uu nad ueen ousted “a pjrimuieut juo ou the tramways in two eons' time." iUr Peters moved, seconded by Mr perry. Unit the spectator uo warned ofi alii the grounds under the jurisdiction at ithe union. The motion was carried. The allegation regarding the payment of nioney to the player was deiorreu lor further, investigation and tho calling of additional witnesses. ... ANOTHER CASE. The 'case of another -spectator was then considered.

A report was submitted to the union by Mr iV. Perry regard.ng the conduct of a person at the Aihietio Park last Saturday who was exhibiting a patent ointment advertisement there. The individual entered tne enclosure, made insulting remarks to patrons of the grandstand, was spoken to oy Mr Perry, and then used lurther abusive and insulting language, besides threatening to strike him.

ft was decided to warn the person ofl all grounds under the jurisdiction ot the union during the pleasure of the union; also to'write to tne company advertising the ointment that in future none of the men exhibiting their advertisements would bo admited to the grounds of the union.