THE RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20086, 30 April 1927, Page 21

THE RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

SO THZ BDITOa. Bin,—ln view of the public interest which hat been aroused in the management of the affairs of the Otago Rugby League, I feel constrained to place before your readers the real facts relating to the dispute. . , It is quite apparent to ali those in touch with the League’s business that the motive force behind the dissatisfied element cornea solely from Mr Divers, the late secretary. He, indeed, is the coni',.,f -lio -n.-et ntr alb'd tor natmliv evening, and all through the discussion he haa taken up an attitude that ia not usually regarded as proper in the case of a person holding a paid position in any society. The whole trouble arises out of an allegation by Mr Divers that the annual meeting held on March, 24 was convened without due notice having been given as required by the rules. Mr Divers was employed by the League aa secretary at a salary of £2OO a year, and he has also received other incidental sum, arising out of his connection with the League. It was his duty, and his duty alone, to attend to the business of sending out the notices convening the meeting, and the responsibility for all the trouble that has arisen must, therefore, rest with him In these circumstances one would have expected him to be a little less clamant in criticising the calling of the meeting. When the alleged irregularities were brought to my notice I consulted my solicitors on the matter, and, on their advice, I wrote to Mr Divers requesting him to furnish me with the full facts and an explanation regarding them. Mr Divers a fetter in reply was not delivered to me until just before the meeting of the 27th inst., and it was impossible for me’ *? accept the grave responsibility at that late hour of declaring the meeting of March 24 to bo void I ruled out of order the motion to the effect that the meeting of March 24 was irregular. It is obvious to snyono of average intelligence that this was not a question to submit to a general meeting of the League. ine meeting of March 24 was either regular ot irregular, and that fact could not be altered* 4 by a resolution of the League, which might have voted either way on th Sinc U e° S then, after carefully considering Mi Divers’s reply, it has become evident that that gentleman failed m his duty as regards calling the annual meeting, and lam advised that it was irregular. 1 have, therefore, alrcadv given mstructions for a fresh meeting to bo called to deal with the business which the meeting ot March 24 purported to deal with but with which it was not competent to deal, me notices foi that meeting are m process of being sent out by the acting-secretary It will be evident, therefore, that, so far , as 1 am concerned, I am taking the earliest ( opportunity of correcting the unfortunate position which has arisen out of the mis take with regard to the notices. This might have been corrected earlier had Mr Divers favoured mo with a prompt reply to my letter to him. , With regard to Mr Divers s complamt about the removal of the registered office of the League, the facts are as follow. At the firstmeeting of this vear’.exew tivo Mr Divers resigned from the office of secretary, and Mr O Kano J-°l? Divers’s own suggestion, was appointed a acting-secretary. The registered office of the League «L. therefore necessarily removed to Mr O’Kane s office. In view of all the circumstances, 1 am not prepared to retain my P oß |£ on ££ sident of the League, and I do not noQA to consent to re-election. i am authorised by Messrs Watson, Lerngo, Wee and Nees. the four vice-presidents and Mr O’Kane, the treasurer, to say that they also decline to accept nomination for these positions. I aid. Coopm