General Gossip.

NZ Truth, Issue 99, 11 May 1907, Page 3

General Gossip.

,- StanvV Wiekhaim, ike evergreen of the Rugi»y field inthe N-.SvW. State,^ 'is still one of Kipling's active "muddied oofs." Archie x McMinn made his re-entry into . senior -football' at Palmerston North on Satui*day; Although somewhat out of form "Tiny" gave a very fair display on the whole. . •■ There was a time, and it is not very long since----whe!H a word of reproach against the English Rugby Union would have raised a howl . of iindiigoation on the. part % of the Otago Rugifey Union. But times have changed, and at last week's annual, meeting of the N.Z.R.U, was seen the undreamt spectacle of delegates chi rping * 'hear , hear' 'm iini son to severe criticism passed by ''Barney" Campbell upon the parent body of footlball m /all British speaking communities throughout the world for its. ambiguous interpretations upon matters relating to laws of the game, etc., submitted to it. by. the administrative body : m this" colony. Delegates were convinced that their, patience had 'been thoroughly ex- j hausted -by the delays 1 and unread- i able interpretations which the fossilised English Rugby Union officials were responsible for m • connection with masters sent on to theiri for adju-dioa'tion and "Barney", Campbell had no trouble m convincing them of the utility of setting up a court of appeal to which decisions given by, the Management Committee of the N.Z.R.U. could be overhauled at the instance of aggrieved Unions or individuals. . -. . ' The constitution of tne new appeal <court is satisfactory as regards two of its. members— Alec Campbell and GeOrge Fache-nbut the selectiori of the third representative, Valuer-General Campbell, despite the assurances of delegates to the contrary, will not meet with anything like universal approbation m colonial Rugby circles for the reason that he is too much oiit of touch with present-^ay Rugby, amd has a penchant for, coming down heavily upon unfortunate individuals who may be brought to book by a Union for infringing its laws and customs. I would never dream of calling his honesty into question, ybut his pig-headed obstinacy has my strongest objection, However, ? tbe court has , . been set up, and I trust it will realise ' the expectations of its sunporters., It can do much good and should serve as a strong check upon a too ' arrogant and domineering Management Committee of the N.Z.R.U., such- as we were blessed with last year.: - TD'ick Isaacs was overwhelmed with congratulations wlien his colleague, Alec Laurenson, gpt up at the Con-_ ference and reeled off' a dozen words with the 'fluency and rapidity, of Sirjoe Ward. It was' Alec's maiden effort extending over a period fof something like ten years. Dick reckons on taking a back seat now. were- dumhiCounded when the "silent one" found his legs and tongue at? the same time. •; Dr. Newman was about right when he 1 characterised: the N.Z.R.U.'s_ Conference as a perfect farce. It .served no useful purpose, and only gave riflg to ©his-wsugging coßceraiiift the

treatment of the smaller Unions, which sent up a dismal wail at the •way their wants had been attended to m the past. That they had legitimate cause for growling was undeniable, and the metropolitan Union's representatives candidly conceded the point. Next year's Conference will have to be carried out on quite different lines otherwise the N.Z.R.U. might justas well keep its talking shop shut until the doings of the past season come up for review by delegates. Last week's proceedings were productive of / a sheer waste of time, and m the finishing stages delegates got out of rein awd participated m a farce that would not have disgraced any one of thope staged by the Fuller Proprietary. In choosing Alf Bayly as its president far this year,' the New Zealand Rugby Umi-on has paid a graceful and well deserved honor to one of the greatest suporters rf the game m the Australasian colonies. Not only that, but tlie uewly-eleoted yre-' sident has upheld its fame and that of the colony m the playing arena, and led the wearers of tlie silver fern-leaf on to maaiy a great victory. His name is inscribed . upon the roll of our finest players, and none bear a worthier reputation, either on or off tlie field. Ti-eire is not a footballer, or follower of the game m this colony but what will hear with regret of his serious illness, the announcement of which came m the riature 6f a thunderclap to . the assembled delegates' at last Thursday night's meeting. '"Truth's" legion of readers will, I am sure, join with me m the hope that the old Taranaki player may be speedily restored to healthThe new district scheme at New- ! castle promises to be a great success, and a record season is anticipated. "Gaily" is reported to have said that Harry Mclntyre is prone to "play to the gallery," or, m other words, inferred that "Mac" is | cracked up a jolly sight more than his abilities entitle Him- to be. Why, every devotee of Rugby m the city laiows well enoueh that there is more m Mac's little finger than there is In "Gaily V whole carcase. As a lilayer, Mac was conceded to be one of the finest loose forwards m the colony, when m his prime, and as a place-kick there were few his equal knocking about those days. As for "Gaily," he never soared above the Wellington Club junior ranks, and he was the very slowest draught horse m the yellow and black mob. too. When; it comes to a matter of brains m initiating and carrying out reforms for tha administration of Ru#>y the tin-pot shipping clerk is not good good enough . to wipe the boots .of Wellington's shrewdest and most far-seeing toeball administrator. The boss snob of the N.Z.R.U. Executive, who crawled back to office when nobody else could be found to take on the treasury job, will cause ructions some fine day if he lets his tongue go wagging too freely on the subject of Mac's qualifications. If the latter has played to the gallery , he can- take credit for receiving- ptenty of recognition m return, whereas the turning . of the limelight on "Gaily" has only served to .crumple him up m public estimation. The Wairarapa Rugby Union is agreeable to" play the Inter-Union match at. Wellington... on June' 3,rd if t-he^sum- of £25, : -or - ten- per cent- ofthe -gate - receiirts, be guaranteed, and if . a . return match be played m Wairarapa /before, the end of July. J The N.S.W. Metropolitan Rucby Union has. donated £50 towards the expenses of the combined schools' team -to, New tZealand— if it comes off. The writer can take credit to himself for having so accurately guaged public opinion, as to the a-bsurdrty of the proposal of the N.Z.R.U. to hold an annual public school contest, and also the advisableness of curtailing the ever-increasing fondness for tripping which seeims to be. such a prominent plank m the policy of certain Rugby officials nowadays. The N.Z.R.U. officials backed down ■ quickly when they heard the chorus _of dissent front delegates on their proposal to bring children from all parts of the colony to play a match, and made haste to explain that it was only intended to 'play these school matches m- the several centres of the colony. Delegates were at one on the point that school Rugby should be fostered m every possible way, but the grant of £200 endorsed by them won't go far when the money is cut up among/' the 'several Unions of the colony. The smaller Unions are relying upon the metropolitan .bodies to keep their fingers out of that £200 pie. - Should, however, the smlaller Unions have the field to themselves, their share, of the. spoil severally will be reduced, to a mere pittance when it is all doled out. Last season I warmly advocated the setting up of an Appeal Court, m order that decisions of. the Management C o m-mittee of the N.Z'iR.U. might be appealed against by those who were dissatisfied with its findings. There have : been cases to amply justify the existence of such a body, and the experiment about to be tried by the Union will be watched with the keenest interest by those concerned m the management of the sport. Too much tim^ has been wasted m sending on disputes for decision by that iriepitude crowd which runs the E.R.U. As was generally expected, the alliance of the metropolitan unions, assisted by Poverty Bay, Taranaki, South Canterbury, Marlborough, Wangaiiui and Nelson and a couple of traitors m the Wellington camp sent back ihe old Managing Committee of the N.Z.R.U. (excepting George Fache), plus Edgar Wylie and Ike Hy am s.* G eorge Fach c declined , to stand, and the Union's Executive is much the poorer for his absence. The rejection of a Wellington nominee was a glaring blot on the whole proceedings, especially when the personnel of some of the present committeemen is considered. Now that the N.Z.R.U. has decided to have a paid secretary, the claims of several alleged aspirants for the office are being carefully weighed ia many quarters. ' If Ron Hood decides to enter the lists he should have a big' chance, and were he to "snap" the. billet there would be general rejoicing all round m Rugby circles. Ron ought to suit the job jto a T. ! Unless those Wairarapa junior rep. players, who did not make the trip to Wellington last season, or even notified the manager beforehand, make & iSatisfae'tory explanation tq

the Union within a fortnight they will be liable to suspension. Over fifty players joined the Manawatu Rugby Union's accident insurance fund within the space of an hour on Saturday afternoon. Wellington . football has lost a good patron m Leh • Jordan, who has been transferred to Dunedin on promotion. Len was one of the founders of the Oriental Club as far back as 1888, and he did sterling service for the CM), both m a. playing and administrative sense. For the past, few seasons Len has occupied the office of president— a position which was conferred upon him by his fellow members to mark their appreciation of him ,as a man, and as a wholehearted supporter of the Club's . fortunes. Three years ago the little chap was elected to the' Management Committee of the local Union, and m a very quiet way. he has been of infinite service 'to the governing body. As manager of; the southern and nothern touring rep. combination m 1S05" and 1906', Len made a great name for himself among the players arid/ -these Rugby officials with whom he ', came m contact m other . places. We are all pleased at his promotion, but, nevertheless, sorry that it entails his removal elsewhere^ Wellington cannot afford to', spare such active workers m the /good .old game of Rugby as Len Jordan. _'? ' Chairman . Campbell, .as the N.Z. R.U. meeting': "I have never sat wHh a. more, earnest and conscientious committee of the N.Z.R.U. than that of last season.',' That energetic collector of -Rugby, gossip m all its rubb ishy hearings, Jack Murray, led.. off a great- round '• of hand-clapping from . Campbell's brutal rriaj or ity. As chairman, Campbell has uttered exactly the same words at every anual meeting; of the Union for the past seven or eight years, his latest tribute to.; the .Dixon push was not exactly a thing, to 'enthuse over. AH for; the love' of the sport. During his connection with tlie N.Z. R.U. Galbraith has taken something like £70 or £ : 80 of the funds m bonuses granted to him.by grateful delegates ;. a trip to Australia and' another rpund , the colony -^with Sivwrigrit's team is also to be counted m. t o o. Is it any weridei*. that "Gaily" sticks' like a leech to his present office ? He .is .looking for more plums when th? fiSxt English team comes " out, • and the . Maorilanders .make anoth«r tout of Fogland. He is dead 1 sure to get the latter job— we don't think.: Anyway, he is sending another photo home \in anticipation of that historic event. - Edgar Wylie rwas rewarded witli £100 for his two years' manipulation of ' the .Secretarial reins of the N.Z.R.U. .Not ,bad for a. honorary billet when? ybuj come to think oi it. Dick Isaacs assured , delegates at the N.Z.R.U. (conclave that not a penny of the £23 voted to the N.Z. Referees' Association would be utilised for the purpose of giving a bonu£ 'to the . secretary of that institution- We shall . see, ; Dick, old boy. The difficulty m t,he way is to find out what tlie .Association really does with f tfie money plaoed at its disposal by the N.Z.R.U. During the progress of the old Boys-Palmerston senior match, last Saturday, -, Referee Harper had to caution a player,/, m the hearing, of the spectators, against pointing for off-side. ."'■'"■■■■ In the first spell of the. Red Star y. Greytown • match op .Saturday., :W, Darville; one of the Red Star backs, broke his right leg below the knee. He was picking up. the-^ball when a Greytown -player kicked at it, missed it, and caught Darville on the leg. Poneke .Club is blessed with plenty of trophy donors this season. The latest m the field is. host Smith, of the Cricteters' /Arms Hotel, who is one of the sturdiest champions of the red and blacks, lie has given a handsome trophy of fifteen guineas to be devoted to any purpose that the committee, mignt: decide. The proposal isi td^make 'it a challenge trophy and the coriimittee would do wisely to, fall 'm line witty that suggestion. '"•' ■' '' '■; Referees might well' exercise a little more discrimination' m the selection of touch judges. * Officials with Club hias should' not be allowed to act m matches m which their club is interested. / A match between Auckland and Otago this, season) should furnish som&tning put of the ordinary for forward and back play.: 'The Dark Blues have- both the forwards and backs to make a match ?of it this .time against the doughty Northerners. Dunedin people expect that the Otago representative team will be strong m. all departments of the game this season. G'bifte on the form displayed m.. cup matches to date there is plenty of firstK-.lass material to be obtained . from the competing clubs. Anyhow, tlje Southerners are looking forward . to a high old Rueby time'', with. Otago's colors to the fore everytime. Stan Wickham has been playing senior Rugby for sixteen or seventeen years. • Mr T. Pratten, the well-known Queensland ': footballer of days gone by, who died recently, _. was one of Nature's gentlemen, and. a very fine footballer. ' ''• Four AuGklanders out of a possible six are said to be nrepared to go with the professional team . to England. Some four or five, others who were approached refused to have anything to do with the scheme. If every th m"- ."■ c*s>; n.s well, as tbe promoters anticipate the. combination will start on its travels about August. There are two opinions as to the tour corning off, the statements for and against being equally assertive. Five goldfield players are included m the Por.san.by mil's this season, viz., Gillett, Hall, Flyhn, •Delamore and "Burly" Cunningham, the "All Black" lock. A Southerner on a visit to Wellington last week expressed the option tb the writer that it was only a question of time when Soccer would drive Rugby clean out of all the primary schools and collegiate institutions m Otago.