ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19135, 1 April 1924, Page 8

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

CONTROLLING BODY CRITICISED. MAORI HILL CLUB SUSPENDED. At the annual meeting of the Otago Football Association last night a keen discussion took place on the resolutions carried by the Maori Hill Club in connection with certain of the association’s officials and the work of the association generally, this criticism being considered absolutely unwarranted by the delegates present, with the exception of the representatives of the chib concerned. M. P. Ruddiman (Northern Club) submitted the following resolutions, which had been carried unanimously at the annual meeting of his club;—“That this meeting of office bearers of, and delegates to, the Otago Football Association strongly protests against the unwarranted suggestions or references to the president, secretary, treasurer, and other officials of that body contained in the Maori Hill Club’s circular letter addressed recently to various clubs; affirms its confidence in the officials referred to, and tenders to these gentlemen ila thanks for the lime given and the labour devoted to the affairs of the association.” “This meeting further resolves, because of such unconstitutional conduct, that the Maori Hill Club be suspended from membership unless an apology is tendered to this meeting and until an adequate public apology is made to the officials concerned, tie then moved them as motions to the annual meeting of delegates, and in doing so said he wished to make it quite clear that his club bore no malice to the Maori Hill Club, but his club considered that the resolutions of the Maori Hill Club were unfortunate. He referred to the able manner in which the secretary (Mr D. Spedding) and other officials had carried out their work, and the resolutions of the Maori Hill Club were decidedly objectionable Various officials of the Northern Club, who also came in for condemnation, had all done good work for the game. It was a matter for very great regret that when everything pointed to a good season this should have been sprung upon them. Mr L. 11. Scott, who seconded the motions, said that the action of the Maori Hill Club was unpardonable, knowing the work the officials concerned had put in It was very unjust of the Maori Hill Club to put forward the resolutions it had done^ Dr MTvillop (Seacliff) stated that his club had every confidence in the secretary and president, and, although some of the decisions of the executive had not met with their approval, they had _ taken them m g °Mr CBeeby (Maori Hill) asked the chair- 1 man if the secretary had received a letter from his club in regard to its resolutions, and asked that it be read. The President pointed out that the letter had been received by the secretary, and :-s Mr Spedding would make a personal reply later in the evening, it would be r °M cssr oh y and A. Walker (the Maori Hill delegates) insisted that the letter bo read at once, bvit the president adhered to his nrovious ruling. Mr Beoby said that his club was prepared to tender an apology to the assW tion and that in framing the resolutions there had been no intention of insult As far as Mr Spedding was concerned he had done good work, but the Maori Hill Chib thought that the Otago Football Association a secretary should be a ooccer man Mr Beebv- continued by recounting his wtm iM in connection with the game for the past IS years, but the chairman directed him to speak to the motions. Continuing, M Bcebv Asked why his club was being suspended, as it considered it bad not done anything to warrant suspension. Mr Walker said that it was unfortunate that this matter had arisen as 'hr- Maon Hill Club had thought that, its loUfr t° tho secretary would have been read at tnis meeting and would help to clear the air. The Maori Hill Club was not swayed by private or club grievances in the matter, and it had acted in the interests of the game. “Soccer," he thought, was far below what it should be in Otago to-day. He asked that the tw G resolutions moved earlier in the meeting be held over till his club’s latter had been read. The President pointed out that he was not in order, as the consideration of the two resolutions had boon taken as urgent business. If he so wished Mr M (dker could ask the mover (Mr Ruddiman) if ho were willing to withdraw his motions. Mr Ruddiman refused to accept this course. , . . . , Mr E. Anderson (Kaitangata) pointed out that if the election of officers taken it would be a way opt of the difficulty, and the election would show how the Maori Hill Club stood. _ .; The President thou asked Mr Walker if the Maori Hill Club were prepared to offer an apqlogv for the unwarranted remarks contained in its circular. Mr Walker replied that Mr Beeby had already offered to do so. He questioned the right of the meetimr to suspend the Maori Hill Club, and those present must give his club credit for being quite open in its intentions. . . , Mr Aberncthv (Old Boys Cluhl said that his club considered that the Maori Hill Club’s resolutions were not as they should he. and strongly supported Mr Ruddiman’s two motions. Mr Spedding said that he did not wish to come into the discussion, but he had received a letter from the Maori Hill Club which he wished to read to the meeting. The letter was as follows:—“I am directed by my committee to bring before you the following facts in connection wth the recommendations passed with regard to the Otago Football Association at its annual meeting on April 19. We understand that a false impression has been created regarding the recommendations referring to the secretary of the Otago Foot-Li 11 Association. We would like to make it clear that nothing personal was intended, as we fully recognise that the present secretary has ably fulfilled his duties so far ns the secretarial work is concerned, and we very much appreciate this fact. My club, however, stands for the principle that the secretary of the Otago Football Association should bo a ‘Soccer’ man at heart and thus be able to do good work for the game apart from Jlis clerical duties. Regarding the publication of the recommendations in the press, I have to state that my committee did not sanction this action, although I would add that the matters were discussed quite openly at the club’s animal meeting, which, as vou know, is open to attendance by members of the Otago Football Association executive. The matters were intended to be brought up by the rhih’s delegates at the annual •meeting of the Otago Football Association, when they could be fully discussed by the whole of the delegates.” Continuing. Mr Spedding said that if tho Maori Hill Club claimed that letter ns an apology he did not think it adequate. They would probably hear more of it later. He said that evidently the Maori Hill Club had heard that tho resolution disnunlifvinrr it would be moved at the annual meeting of (ho association. and that the members had got their beads together to see how they oould “climb down.”' The charge against the, president was unwarranted, as ho had carried out his duties faithfully and well. With regard to tho association’s balance sheet, jt had not been customary to publish it with the report. as it v/as always available to members at the meetings; and, further, the auditors were two responsible men, one an accountant and the other a company manager. He had always done what he could for the game, and mentioned several occasions when he had rendered the association valuable assistance, and he read several letters of aporeciation of his services. Apnarently the onlv complaint the Maori Hill Club had against him was the fact that he was a follower of the Rugby game, hut he had never allowed this to prejudice the interests of Association football. Mr J. Milburn (vice-president and treasurer) stated that he had been connected with the game upwards of 20 years, and took it to heart that a club like Maori Hill had seen fit to bring forward such resolutions. He took it as a personal matter, and urged that a proper apology be received, and ho intimated that, he did not intend to take nnv further part in the affairs of the association. Mr Ruddiman's motions were then put and carried, with onlv two dissentients, the ooposers being the Maori Hill representatives. The President expressed his thanks to the delegates for the manner in which they had supported the association’s officials in the unwarranted attacks which had been levelled against them. He bad been actively connected with the executive for eight years. and his experience as president showed that officials got more “kicks than kudos.” and intimated that he had also definitely decided to lake no further part in the association's affairs.