FOOTBALL FLASHES.

NZ Truth, Issue 353, 30 March 1912, Page 3

FOOTBALL FLASHES.

(By "Fair Mark.")

The noble Rugby player is breathing hard and getting a brand new set of spikes (without nails) ready for the opening m a week or so. Nothing much doing m the. argumentative game yet, the only occurrence of any note having been the meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union delegates, which was passing off very nicely under the able guidance of Dr. Newman, M.P.. till there arose our usual prize gas-bag, Oliver Cromwell "Weir, reformer and" man with untold grievances. And after that the peace of the meeting had departed. Weir is the sort of man who goes to every meeting of any sort m connection with Rugby, and, under guise of discussing the report and balance sheet, drags m all the same old tripe that he has talked for years and years, but this time, having" a bad memory, or a foolish private secretary, he got badly off the track and talked more rot than usual. Wellington Referees' Association have held their meeting, and there appears to be a. sort or armed neutrality between that body and the Pnion. Which is a great pity, because the Association is' a necessity to the Union, as the latter body will surely find if they split. The Association has undoubtedly been badly advised m the past In some things, but if both bodies will pull well together this coming season we shan't hear any more, or very little more at any rate, of that nagging and constant irritation that existed last year* Never mind about who's boss, do the game for the game's sake, and both sides will get public sup-, port. Another thing one regrets to hear of is the prevalence of players— big players — changing clubs. I haven't the slightest intention of suggesting that the deserters get anything, either directly or indirectly, for the change, either m billet or bullion, but it seems to be the wrong thing for a club with a bit of v pull m the businesTi line to hook another club's players. More of this later. I^et it be a strong suggestion to the Wellington Rugby Union Management Committee to stick to their programme once it is drawn, and not to alter gain-as from one date to another and from one ground to another for the sake of a few bob. It's fall right from the treasury point of view, bat the public and players won't have it any more. And right here one rises to remark that the Wellington Rugby Union is m .the same box through the pull out of Stan Brown as Chairman of Committee. There is an old saying that never was one so good that one equally good could not be found, which is possibly a correct one m most cases, but the new chairman has got to keep his eyes wide open on all occasions, and his mouth well shut on others. Stan Brown is a distinct loss to the Union and thy game.