RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10084, 24 September 1918, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

A special meeting of the executive oj tho New Zealand Rugby Union was he'd last evening. There were present—Messrs 6. Dixon (chairman), G. C. Fnche, E. Wylie, Q. Howe, A. Lawronson, and Dr P. McDvedy. A sub-committee set up to report on tbe letters received from the Wellington and Canterbury Unions in regard to the rules governing professionalism, recommended that the communications received from those bodies be score on to tbe English Rugby Union for consideration and thpt cruise was adopted. Mr G. Howe suggested a recommendation might be made to the English au-( thorities regarding the reinstatement ufj players who were under 21 years of ago, and who had played under the Northern Union rules.

The chairman said that no act jolt could be taken as suggested, as a speoialj resolution had been passed at the annual meeting of..the New Zealand Union delegates dealing with the matter. In reply to the letter from the executive in reference to the playing of the Auckland-Wellington match at Athletic Park under the amended rules, the Wi-.-j lington Union said that they bad mat C inquiries into the special circumstances, and were in a position to stare tuat ao ( agreement had been arrived at to vi t; y any of the rules, nor had the captain or any member of the Wellington team lecoi’ved any instructions to play the amended rules.

Mr Wylie said that as no information could be obtained from tho Wellington Union tho Auckland Union should be appealed to on the subject. Mr Fache said that under the rnlos the Wellington Rugby Union should have held a complete inquiry, and as only one man (tho captain) had been interrogated a complete inquiry had not been held. He suggested that in »ddition to the Auckland Union being asned for information the Wellington 1-ni-ur bo also asked to make proper inquiry: The executive had uie power to uem.i-.d a complete inquiry. Provision was made in the rules for tho management o> remittee, in the event of a union not ccn» ducting an inquiry when requested, to deal with the matter themselves and take such action as they may think flt. The following motion by Mr Fache was agreed to:—“That in the opinion of file committee the Wellington Rugby Union has failed to make proper inquiry regard- - ing the playing of the Auckland-Welling-ton matcli on September 7th, and under the provisions of rule 24 calls upon the union to complete tho inquiry, and further that tho Auckland Rugby Union be requested to inquire into the matters a lipcuring in tho minute book of the executive." (The motion refers to questions sent to tho - Wellington Rugby Union ic», answers respecting the playing of amend! od rules in the match between Auckland and Wollingbon, and reported in tha "Times" of September 10th). A letter was received from tho Wellington Rugby Union requesting the executive to state why no exception was taken to the amended rules played in last season's inter-club matches in Auckland and three inter-union matches with Wellington, while two sitting-mem-bers of the N.Z.E.F.U. were delegates of the Auckland Rugby Union, Dr McEvedyr said tho oxecutive was not aware that other than, the English Rugby Union rules were being played, and as they had no knowledge, and tho Wellington Union had. it was them duty to inform the executive. Mr Fache said that the gentlemen re. ferred to were well able to look after themselves, but as far as he was concerned the letter was a gross insult. He had yet to learn that a delegate represented a province only, and notj Rugby football as a whole as played, in New Zealand. ,

The chairman said that according to a report he and Dr Mcßrcdy had been; "dropped" by the Auckland Rugby, Union. This, said Mr Dixon. was ab-1 solutoly untrue. He and Dr McEvedyj had resigned their positions, as they, were unable to support certain resolutions favoured by Auckland. The chairman took exception to , a statement that had been made at a meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union regarding members of the executive interviewing the referee who had charge of the Auckland-Welliugton game. The only statement made by Mr Kitto, the referee in question, was mode voluntarily, and the words used to him in answer were, "You are not in this." Mr Dixon added that he was surprised that Mr D. Weir did not take some action when the statement was made, as ho was present when the members of the management committee were spoken to by Mr Kitto, and was perfectly awgre of what took place. Dr McEvedy said that the chairman of the Wellington Rugby Union was aware that he and Mr Dixon were not "dropped” by the Auckland Union, and as he knew it to bo untrue ho acted very unfairly in not challenging ti.o Statement when it was made by Mr Mallard, who probably made it under a misapprehension. He said that it appeared to him that the Wellington Rugby Union having got into trouble wore not going the right way to got out of it. Allegations were made against the executive that they were acting in a spiteful manner, when they were doing their utmost in the interests of Rugby football in New Zealand which they had at heart. He felt very strongly on the matter, and thought that the Wellington Rugby Union was doing its utmost to mislead the public, as in formcr games with Auckland the amended rules were not played. The letter was received. A RAILWAY MATCH. Playing at Palmerston North yesterday a team from the Wellington Railway battalion mot and defeated a team from the Railway battalions, Wanga,nui, by H points to 5. Tries were scored for Wellington By BFahop, Hunter, and Cunlifto. Charlton kicked a penalty goal, and also converted bishop’s try.