OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 4

OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

The weekly meeting of the Otago Rugby Union was hold last night. Toe president (Mr H, H. S. White) occupied the chair. ‘TUTTING IT ACROSS THEM.” The Chairman said tluit before they commenced the business of the meeting he would like to movo that a. letter of congratulation be sent to Mr S. I’’. Y ilsoii, president of the. Canterbury Union, on bis appointment as the delegate from New Zealand to the Imperial Rugby Conference It was only natural that they would have liked to have seen the Otago Union’s nominee appointed. Ho was sure ho would have done credit to the, position, and, moreover, ho had given long and valuable service in the interests of the game in New Zealand. They all felt very mu eh disappointed. bo was sure that. Mr Harris— Mr G. Nelson; Are we eommitulating Mr Wilson or giving a sympathy vote to our own delegate? The Chairman: Well,'l will move that a letter of congratulation bo sent to All - Wilson. Mr IT. Harris seconded the motion. Mr J. Wootton said ho did not think they should pass tho motion. He did not think they should pat the New Zealand "Rugby Union on tho back for the wav they had come at the appointment. He. did not desire to deprive Mr Wilson of his honour—he had got tho delegateshin— but by passing the motion they were backing up the New Zealand Rugby Union. He did not think, from the. way they kind had it put. across them, that they should have anything to do with such a motion. He thought that had they known how the appointment was to bo made they could have snouted round and got what he might call proxies for their nominee. Tho Now Zealand Rugby Union had put it all over them. The Chairman; All those in favour of the motion say “Aye.” There was a chorus of “Ayes,” and a more emphatically expressed number of “Noes,” but the number voting “No” were in tho minority. Mr Nelson: I am against the motion on the principle of the thing. Tho Chairman: The motion is earned. THE ECKHOFF CASK.

A Prebble, bon. secretary of the ZingariRicbmond Club, wrote slating (hat at a special meeting of his club lie .bad been instructed to ask for a- reonening of the Eckhoff case, so that additional evidence might be beard. This evidence bad not been available at the hearing, owing to the impression that evidence could not be given. Further facts had been forthcoming which might weaken be evidence given against Eckhoff. His club thought that the Otago Rugby Football Union should hear tins evidence, .which might lie strong enough to justify ft in cancelling altogether, or reducing, tho sentence imposed. This sentence, in Ihe opinion of his club, and a large number of players and followers of .the game was an excessive sentence, considering the contradictory evidence and tho doubt concerning Eekhcff being guiltv of tho serious charge he had been accused of. His club stood firm against rough play, and approved of the, Otago Rugby Football Union punishing offences for rough and dirty play, but in this case, after hearing and considering Eekhoff's version, and also listening tr> fresh facts from outsiders and players, hi s club asked to he given an opportunity of placing this evidence before the union, (hat the union might reconsider its decision. His club would ho prepared to appear before the committee at its next mooting and place its facts before it for consideration.

The? Chairman said at the inquiry thst Eckhoff had boon asked if bo desired to call evidence, and ho had said ho did not desire to do so.

Mr Strong said their secretary had sent the notice to the secretary of the ZingariRichmond Chib, and in it be, had stated that Eckhoff could call evidence. Air Brown said the secretary of the -:n-gari-Riehmond Club bad received the letter on tho Wednesday morning, but ho bad been unable to see Eckhoff. and ho had not delivered It till the (following Monday morning —the date on which tho inquiry was to bo held.

Mr Harris said ho did not, think Eckhoff had quite realised the serious position in which he wa.s placed, and in view of the fact that ho had not received the letter stating that he could call evidence till Ihe clay cf the inquiry he thought it might bo desirable to give Eekhcff a chance of bringing evidence. He took it that Eckiioff had fresh evidence. He would move that the fresh evidence be beard. Air AFLaren seconded tho motion. Air Brown said Eckhoff was under the impression that he could net call evidence. After discusrion, it, was decided to hear any fresh evidence which tho Zingari-Rich-inond might, bo prepared to place "before the committee. It was also decided that after the committee had heard the evidence it would bo able to come to a decision whether the case should be reopened or not.

Is was re-solved to ask the referee-, Air Eckhold. to attend, hut that the other witnesses who bad given evidence would not be required to attend in the meantime.

It was also agreed that a member of tho Zingari-Richmond should, bo present at the inquiry. OBJECTION TO REFEREE.

Mr R. APKenzio, secretary of the Otago Referee*’ Association, wrote stating that at a meeting of the association, field on Saturday night, it had before it a copy of (ho letter sent by the Pirates’ Ohio to tne Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Union objecting to Mr G. APKenzio as a referee, and that after discussion the following motion was carried-unanimously : “That this association would, draw- the attention of the O.R.F.U. to the fact that, according to by-law 17 of the Referees’ Association. the executive of the association is the only authority to which all complaints concerning referees can be submitted. . "It is further the opinion of this meeting that the O.R.F.U. should have notified the Firates’ Club that its letter dealt, with a matter that did not. in the first instance, came under tho jurisdiction of the 0.R.F.U., and that it should have been sent direct to the secretary of the Referees’ Association. _ “Wc would also point out that tho discussion of the letter and its subsequent implication was a grave injustice not only to tho referee concerned but also to this association as a whole, which can, in onr opinion, only bo nartialJy rectified by the era.sum of any reference thereto from tho minutes of the 0.R.1* .U.” 'the Chairman said the leltor fo tho union had been sent by the secretary of the Pirates’ Club, not by tno ca»'taiif, am' logically enough the union had dealt with tho complaint. Tho committee of tho union find carried a resolution which stated that unless tho Pirates’ Club could _make a specific charge against tho referee m "iiesf;ou it could not receive the complaint. The committee did not uphold the complaint received from tho Pirates’ Club. Personally he did not think anv injustice had been dorm lo tho Referees’ -Association. The commit too of tho union had uphold the method adopted by the Referees’ Association in the appointment of referees, and if tho association appointed Mr M’Kenzie again for a, match in which the Pirates’ Club was engaged hq would lie expected fo carry out his duties in tho same nianucr as in tho past. Air Harris said they all recognised that (he Referees’ Association was a body which did a lot for football, but 1m 00-tainly abiceted to tho association's contention that it. was tho onlv body that c-dd adjudicate ir- a matter of this kind. The committee, eeuld only allow tie aswißion fo 'td.judicale in ectain tint on rue before it from a club. The letter from (he Pirates flub was an official communication from a club affiliated to the union, and the committee had to deal with it. Mr Harris then moved “That ilie letter be received, and fhat tho committee would point out lo the association that it cannot accept the association's view that it is the only body that can deal with a complaint arising between a referee and a club taking part ip club matches.” He would go further, and say that the committee of tho union was the only bock that could deal with a complaint made oy a club against a referee. In this case, however, no charge was even made against tho referee. The club kimply submitted a general statement tuat a club had no confidence in Mr M ‘Kenzio. It did not make any charge, Tho motion was carried unanimously. _ It was also decided that the motion covered the whole complaint received from tno association, GATE UKOEIPTS. 'Die, Secretary reporled that (he gale receipts for the match at (.’arisbrook on Saturday eainn to £176 18s 3d. GKXKIIAT,. A letter was received from the Southland Union forwarding a scheme under which a team from the Western. Central, Northern, Eastern, and Wakatipu Subunions would bo able to send a team representative of the sub-unions on a northern tom- this season. It was proposed .that all return matches should be played in Invercargill, and it would be a condition in making a fixture with any of the nortberu unions' that return matches must lie played the following year. Tho suggestion was that matches should b« played against

Mouth Otago, North Otago, and Ashburton, and it might also be possible to arrange with the Otago Union to play a match at Dunedin against tho sub-unions of Central Otago.—lt -was (fecided to receive the letter and to point out to the Southland union that it was too lato in the season for such a lour. Moreover, the lour would not benefit the majority of tho sub-unions affiliated to the Otago Union. A letter was received from tho New Zealand Rugby Union advising that £lO bad been allotted to the Otago Union out of this year’s schools’ grant of £6OO. —The letter was received, find it was decided to suggest to the New-Zealand Union unit the amounts expended on school football by the various unions .should bo published in its annual balance sheet. D. Sughruo applied for a transfer from the Union Club to the pimedin Club. —Applicant to forward his-, clearance from tho Union Club before lus application can be considered. SATURDAY’S DAMES. The following ia the draw for tbo Rugby football games on Saturday: First Grade.—Zingari v. Pirates, at Tahura No. 2 (Mr It. Herd); University B v. Union, at North Ground (Mr A. Wallace); Dunedin v. University A, at Carishrook (Mr E. Clancy); Taievi Rovers v. Alhambra, at Moagiel (All- w. Jenkins): Kaikorai v. Southern, at Tahuna No. 1 (Mr G. M’Kenzie). Second Grade. — Union v. West Tnieri, at Out ram (Mr J. Higgirson); Zingari v. Kaikorai. at Montceillo (Mn A. J. Haub); Training College v. Dunedin, at Forhury No. 4 (Mr G. Mavston); University D v. Raveiisbrmrnc, at Raven:',bourne (Mr .1. Sutherland/; Southern, v. Port, at Bathgate Park (Mr A. Morgan); Pirates v. Taieri Rovers, at Fonbury No. 2 (Mr A. Eckhold); Alhambra v. University C, at Cpolio No. I (Mr A. Kennedy). Third Grade. —Green Island v. Pirates B, at Green Island (Mr R- Torrance); Dunedin v. Y.M.t?A. A, at Alexandra Park G'rr J. Torrance); Kaikomi v. Union, at B’.shopacourt (Mr K. Watson); Training College v. Zingari, at Oval No. 1 (Mr J. Hayea); Port v. Y.M.C.A. B, at Port" Chalmers (Mr W. ABNeill); Alhambra B v. High School, at Opoho No. 2 (Mr 11. C. Williamson); Aihambra A v. Southern! B, at Bathgate Park, I.i>o (Mr T. Dallas); Ravensboumo v. Southern A, at Ravensbourne (Mn F. Percy); University E v. Pirates A, at Tahuna No. 3 (Mr C. Williams). Fourth Grade.—Pont v. Southern, at Oval No, 2, 2.45 (Mr R. Finder); High School B v. Tvaiknvai A, at Bishonscourt No. 2, 2.45 (Mr W. .Ronnieki; Pirates v. Kaikorai B. at Bishopseourt No. 1 (Mr F. Deo;; Alhambra v. Dunedin, at Oval No. 2 (Mr .1. Himburg); Zingari v. M'G’aslian, at Asylum (Mr W. Jones); Green Island, a bye. Fifth Grade.—Dunedin v. Alhambra, at Carishrook (Mr F. Clarkson); High School C v. ’Taieri Rovers, at Asylum, 2.45 (Mr A. J. Peal); Southern v. Union, at Tahuna No. 2 (Mr il. J. Smith); Zingari v. Port, at Port Chalmers, 2 p.m. (Mr F. S. Perrett); Pirates v. V.M.C.A., Pirates by default; High School D v. Green Island, School by default. President’s Grade.—High School F v. Southern, at Ova! No. 3 (Mr V. Swete); Pirates v. Dunedin, at Tahuna No. 1 (Mr W. Rowland); Technical v. Zingari, at Monteoiilo (Mr A. Brown); Alhambra v. j-iagh School E, at Onohn No. 1 (Rev. H. Maclean); Port v. Green Island, at Oval No. 3, 2.45 (Mr J. Cakier). . In the event of Carishrook not being fit for the curtain-raiser, it will be played on Uviil No. 1 at. 1.30 p.m. Dunbaek v. Pahneiuton, at Palmerston (Sir W. Connor). Keachft v Waikouaiti, at Waikouaita (Mr J. Coulter). EASTERN DISTRIST SUB-UNION Saturday’s matches resnlled as follows: At Dunbaek, Send iff 8 boat Dunbaek 3; at Palmerston, Palmerston 10 beat WaiKouaiti 6. MANIOTOTO SUB-UNION. Tho following are the results of Saturday’s matches;—Nuseby 11 beat Dunstan Creek S. Second Grade.—Patearoa 15 beat Kyehurn /; Raniurly a boat Hyde 6; Gimmcrburn a beat Ida Valley 3. Schools’ Games. —llanfarly 19 beat Naseby nil; Kyeburn S beat Waipiata 3. jrtIGH SCHOOLS’ GAMES. OTAGO v. WAITAEI. The following will represent tho Otago Boys’ High School in their annual matches against Waitaki Boys’ High School at uornam on Wednesday;— First Fifteen.—Duff, Bathgate, Priest, Irvine. (captain), Braithwaite, Young, Holden, Aitken, Bremndr, Rodger, Currie, .lolly, Watson, M‘Arthur. Young; emergencies -Caradus, Torrance. Second Fifteen.--Chapman, Joyce, Dallas, Milne (caolain), Allan. Anglis, Johnston, Howes, Holler. Sutherland. Harhrow, Salmond, Cox, Edmonson. Sutherland; emergencies—Martin, Williams. POST AND TELEGRAPH. Tho following teams will represent tho Post and Telegraph offices in a match at the Caledonian Ground to-morrow: Post; Templeton. Anderson, Alexander, Jt’lawn, Beck, Elliott, Brocks, Webber. Noble, Palmer, Parker, Woods, Captinacus, MT-cnna.n. Keenan. Telegraph: Stewart, Arthur, Callender (2), Duff, Vorralb, Murtagh, Robertson, Roughan, O’Cullaghan, Harris, Woodhouso, ‘Wiseman, Crack, Sherriff, Brough. Referee, Mr E. Clancy.

ALL BLACKS IN SYDNEY. COMMENT'S OX SATURDAY'S"MATCH. Press Association—By Tr.'egraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, July V. Commenting on the All IJlaeks' match, the Sydney Morning Herald says: '"The Now Zealand light, ticks appear to bo out of proportion relatively to the strong, heavy forwards; hut there can he no question regarding the quality of the backs in attack. They are fast and nippy. The forwards have great pace, and the heaviest men seem to he the fastest. The backs made many slips in endeavouring to take the ball from passes, probably through overeagerness. Improvement in this respect will render their displays more finisheu." The Daily Telegraph says that it was ii contest between youth and dash on one hand and hard and heady experience on tho other. Mr Little, manager of the All Blacks, stated that they were beaten on their merits, but that they hoped to make good later.