FOOTBALL CODES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 13

FOOTBALL CODES

THE DIVERS INCIDENT. I ■ , TO THE EDITOR. , .1 Sir,—Several days ago you ware gene rous enough to publish a Ict.er > by. an equally generous correspondent, .who-jayi-dently had learnt of a notice sent me,by .-Vt the Otago Rugby Union on behalf of the • New Zealand Union, requesting me to , “show cause within fourteen days ythy I should not be expelled’ from Rugby, football owing to having infringed the law* of ~ professionalism ” I thank yocr correspond- : ent for his well-couched judgment" (pf,,'tbe matter, and deadro to state that l am doe acquainted with the laws of professionalism, : a for the very reason that I nave been asso- .' ciated with amateur sport all my life,-' and intend to defend sny right to continue to ' do so. With that object- in. view I instructed my solicitors to look into, the mat- ; ter, to prevent the. Rugby Union from ; persisting in vindictive and intimidatory propaganda, which seems to be ■ its “sportsmanlike” attitude towards others who do not see eye to eye with its general ad- ■ ministration. Because I choose as a citizen to help to foster League football, which, in New Zealand, is considered to bis amateur, or as muon amateur as Rugby, I’do not see why I should be expelled - or threatened to be expelled from Rugby;’ even though I have never been connected Xith it, nor have I indicated that I wanted* to - be. My solicitors received a reply from the Rugby Union (Dunedin) pointing out that the English Rugby Union rules, aro applied in New Zealand, and axe to .bo enforced “in the cases of Mr Divers and others.” This epistle adds: “My" committee, in reply to your remark that Mr Divers cannot be expelled from a position which he does not hold, points out it - , , has used the exact words of the English rule. Perhaps the word ‘expel,’ whichr is u in the rule does not very well fit the meaning. But the meaning plainly Ta-^at, a person who breaks the union’s rule* as to professionalism must cease to be a. member of any Rugby Union club of which ha i» then a member, end cease to be eligible for membership of any Rugby Union., or- ■, ganisation whether he is a member of any organisation or not.” ■ ~ Now, just imagine a person breakmg.rtpea . of an organisation to which he does -not belong in any way! I take it -that -,tee Rugby Union, according to the foregoing rules, will be in duty bound to notify?all, citizens of New Zealand who patronise , League football, racing, and other modern sports and axe not members of the Rugby Union, advising them that they must -explain or are ineligible to become members of the Rugby Union or its clubs . As a kina of solace to me .* proceeds: “It does not seem forr.to JfHaca any man under this permanent disabnity without letting him know and a chance to explain in*? 3 ® 11 . i ■ Is that not kind? By what strange JcagMi- . ing am I compelled to explain, to ti* - Rugby Union? Ha* that self-elated bodj . taken the function of a iudicialoourt'it this land, so much eo that •w.yJPgW” on any citizens, willy-nilly, to ■«? they should not bo ©spoiled - K5 1 * Rugby Union oiganisation, members; or are ineligible, .even i have not desired to be eligible? , deavour to cloak over 11« foolurtt “, tion the union’s letter adds: If tn^moß that he has rendered himself having anything to do with does not interest the person to notice is harm is at ■ m DaraS Itself . utterly, ■ suggested that Mr Divers was at of the notice in any way connected .With RU T t l '4hr I«ncr 1 «ncr ol th. U surely sufficient to show the faltering , pecuHmty of Rugby Union and its ideas of justice to I leave the matter at present pier discrimination of your nnd enclose copy of the carreaponaanco that has passed between the muon and,my legal advisee*. 1 mm etc.. [Enclosures.] .• .■■■, » * si-T h p .rs.f sJJSwwN STz«l.’nd Rugby ing you to show cause withm fourteen Zln whv you should not be expelled «bm £by footWl, owing to having mtriaged riie laws of professionalism. Ycmrs faithfully (Signed) Wtt.sonv Secreta*#.

E. S. Wilson', Secretary

Dunedin, December 4, im The Secretary the Otago Rugby FootbaL Union, Dunedin. ■ • ■ Den Sir, —Mr H, Di«» your letter e£ Novembe jeienru, sns tsrm ufi .or to. >» , iii* srjr.tfas. to tang himsdf V ith in the <0&*o iTi'n’ si »vr?i.bi| j; : . to you th^ fc n „ th ® even threatened man has been snorting orgaiusawith expulsion / r if he is'otherlion is calculated, espeoallyu ne . in . t wise connected with port,^ jure him m > , . union’s sense “fir. « Ini prte* jirioi.* ..Jttog of fair play win u without careful ■ con- • 'gs&'pjsrs SftSSff SowTSfl «»«, |

Otago Rugby FootbaU UmonJDi Messrs Solomon, Gascoigne, Sinclair, an Dear Sirs, Ke jvxr n 1 am directed £ ioVo(.»o~'i» .p;‘ n '£,“,Sy Mr DiTers and others. My committee, in reply to your remark that Mr D| v ® rs . t. _P iLnAlied from a position which, he does St hold. pointß out that it has u^dAhe club of which he is then a m 6^ be 1 r U a ” 1 1 celases to be eligible for membership of any Rugby Union organisation, whether he is a member of any such org®* not It does not seem f air ,. to , man under this permanent disability withSrt leS him P know and chance to explain himself. . , that he has rendered of having anything to do with Rufrby football does not interest the person to whom the notice is sent, no harm is at in sending it And m England anti-hero is has always been the practice to send-such notices, whether the person dealt with was a member of any Rugbv Unior. club or not Finally, this letter will make it . clear, that it is hot suggested that Mr Divers the date of the notice in any way connected with Rugby football.—Tours faithfully. (Signed) E. S. Wilson. Secretory.

Dunedin, December 8, 192*. E 9 Wilson, Esq., secretary Otago R%gby Football Union, Dunedin. ‘ • Dear Sir,—We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 6th inst, which we have carefully considered. We note .that vour union does not intend to expel* Mr ... Divers, and frankly admits that it otmld . not do so because he is not in any way connected with Rugby football. We««thet from your letter that what you mbpaated to him amounts to this: that it he should apply for admission to the Rugby Union ■ he will have to meet this question tif jpto- ; fessionalism. So long ai the matter!*tknda , in that position we cannot, of cour», com-' plain. Indeed, it is fair and courteous- cf i your union to give him that xntirnataon; ~ but if, without any such application fon his part, you should proceed to deal with him in any way, we deem it right to .-inform • you that he has'instructed as to take such i proceedings as we think appropriate pbfpro- 5 tact his character from defamation. —Y truly, (Signed) ~ ’3 Solomon, Gascoigne, Sinclair, & SOtOHOSj, Per S. BolOtfion, !| [Published by Arrangement.]? -