OTAGO RUGBY UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22268, 22 May 1934, Page 7

OTAGO RUGBY UNION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE The weekly meeting of the Otago Rugby Union was held last night. The president (Mr John Mitchell) occupied the chair. CHARGE WITHDRAWN. ! The secretary of the Southern Club j wrote, stating that his club had no direct I charge to make against the Referees' Asso--1 ciation, in regard to the allegation that 1 certain players had been singled out for watching at a meeting of the association. The matter had come tq his committee through indirect information, and it had brought it up in the intereste of the game. j His club did not desire to go any further in the matter.—The letter was received. APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES. The Referees' Appointment Board submitted the names of the following referees for interprovincial matches:—Messrs J. Aitcheson, W. A. Jenkins, L. E. Maeassey, E. Pear.ce, and F. Swete. —It was decided to forward the names to the New Zealand Union. QUESTION OF JURISDICTION. Mr G. W. Thomson, secretary of the Eastern District Sub-union, wrote in respect of the charge by Mr J. Gordon against J. Barber for using insulting language to him. Mr Gordon was the subunion selector. The secretary stated that Mr Barber denied the charge when he had appeared before the sub-union, taking up the attitude that the sub-union had no jurisdiction over him under the circumstances. This attitude had antagonised several of the delegates present, as they held that the sub-union's officials must be protected. Barber in this case had approached Mr Gordon as a member of the Transfer Committee. During the past few years officials on several occasions had beep subject to abuse from players, and his subunion felt that they must take a stand in the matter, especially as Barber had on two previous occasions been penalised by the sub-union. Mr Gordon's version of the incident was accepted, and Barber had been suspended for the rest of the playing season, under 31 of the"rules of the New" Zealand Rugby Union. A letter was received from Barber asking if the Otago Union or the sub-union officials had jurisdiction over players oft' the field, and whether the sub-union had power to suspend a player for supposedly using insulting language on the evidence of one man only. Barber appealed against his suspension by the sub-union. It should be explained that the language complained of took place in Mr Gordon's garage on a Friday afternoon.

Mr H. Harris said he thought the only redress the «üb-union bad was for Mr Gordon to take civil action acainst Barber. The New Zealand Rugby Union rules were not framed to deal with individual cases, these being under the jurisdiction of a local union. No one beard the altercation between the two persons. It was simply one man's word against another. He thought Mr beat way would be to take civil action against Barber. Mr D. M. Stuart said that they surely should not allow a player to use insulting language against an official and their committee do nothing. • Mr V. G. Cavanagh said he thought they should endoree the disqualification and leave it to the New Zealand Rugby Union to settle the matter.

Mr T. O'Shea said that they had no record of the evidence at the inquiry before them. He agreed with Mr Harris that Mr Gordon might take a civil action against Barber. Mr Harris held that their committee had no authority under its rules to do anything. -It might be advisable to consider the question of putting a by-law in their rules to meet such a position. If they sent the matter to the New Zealand Union it would simply send it on to the Appeal Committee, and this committee could only,deal with it under the Otago Union by-laws. As matters stood at .present they had no by-law to deal with a case such aa this. Members were agreed that Barber should not be allowed to get off scotfree. Mr Harris said he would like to explain that he now noticed that the Eastern Districts was bringing the matter up under a rule of the New Zealand Union. Mr O'Shea moved—" That the correspondence be forwarded to the New Zealand Union, pointing/ out that the subunion considered that the governing body could deal with the matter under rule 31, and leaving it to the New Zealand Union to come to a decision. .This committee is of opinion that officials should be protected." . Mr Douglas Speddirw seconded the motion, which was carried. CHARGE OF MISCONDUCT. The referee (Mr H. J. Caldwell) reported the Zingari-Richmond . Third Grade team for unseemly behaviour on the occasion of their visit to Brighton on Saturday week. , A letter was also received from the Zingari-Richmond Club stating that, at the request of the Management Committee, it had held an inquiry into the charge and that it was taking definite action to guard against a repetition of the behaviour. The full team was to be reprimanded by the president of the club. The referee and a player who had been ordered off for using bad langtiage appeared before the committee. —The referee stated thtft there had been drinking on the trip by some of the youths. It was decided to suspend the player for four playing Saturdays. Mr J. B. Wootton moved that the letter from the Zingari-Richmond Club be referred back for further inquiry. He pointed out that the club should ascertain who were the offenders and punish them, and not penalise the whole of the players. Mr Douglas Spedding moved as an amendment that the Zingari-Richmond Club be thanked for holding the inquiry, and that its action be endorsed. The amendment was carried. SOUTH v. NORTH ISLAND. A letter was received from the secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union stating that his union was unable to change the date of the South v. North Island match, as requested by the Otago Union, from September 29 to September 22.—Noted. The writer also stated that September 15 had been definitely arranged for the match between Otago and the Maori team; SCRUMMAGE RULING. A letter Was received from the Otago Referees' Association drawing the attention of the committee to the fact that on page 149 of the Otago Rugby Union's Annual, under the heading of " Scrummage," there appeared the following:— "No player must, by speech or otherwise, indicate as to. how or when the ball is being put in." It was decided to refer the matter to the Judicial Committee to consider the point raised. NUMBER OF BALLS. Mr I. Grant wanted to know whether it was an instruction from the committee that three balls had to be used iu a match. The Alhambra Club had fallen in with the wish, although it was not sure about the position. It had thought it was a request from the committee. It was stated that it was only a request—not au instruction. Mr Cavanagh said that the game was fast enough, and that the only chance the players had for a breather was when the ball went out. It was pointed out that if the northern teams to visit Dunedin used three balls, the Otago team would be handicapped if local clubs used only one ball. The chairman said that all the other provinces played with three balls. It was decided to leave the matter to the clubs to decide for themselves. GENERAL. Mr E. J. Sheridan, referee in the Third Grade match, Dunedin v. Green Island, reported having ordered off a Green Island player for questioning his decisions. — The referee appeared before the committee, but there was no appearance of the player.—lt was decided that the player be suspended until he appeared before the committee. The town clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) wrote advising that the union's tender of £27 10s for the use until September 16 of tbe main No. 1 ground and grand stand at Logan Park bad been accepted.

MATCHES FOR SATURDAY The following is the draw for Saturday, with grounds and referees:— First Grade.—Union v. Duncdin, University Oval No. 1, 3 p.m. (Mr F. Sv.ete); Southern v. Alhambra. Main Ground, Logan Park. 3 p.m. (Mr J. ; Pirates v. Zingaii, Tahiina No. 1, 3 p.m.

(Mr A. Haig); University Av. University B, to bo played later; Kaikorai'v. Taieri, Carisbrook, 3 p.m. (Mr E. Pearce). Second Grade A.—Port Chalmers v. Alhambra, Port Chalmers, 3 p.m. (Mr R. Bryant); Kaikorai v. Southern, Hancock Park No.. I. 3 p.m. (Mr J. B. Burton); Zingari v. Pirates, Hancock Park No. 2, 3 p.m. (Mr E. Sheridan); University v. Ravensbourne, to be played later. . Second Grade B.—University v.. Taieri, to be played later; Southern v. West Taieri, Outram, 3 p.m. (Mr W. Baxter); Pirates v. Union, University Oval No. 2, 3 p.m. (Mr C. Stallard); Dunedin, a bye.

Third Grade, Section 1. —Ravensbourne v. Alhambra, Opoho No. I, 3 p.m. (Mr 11. J. Hendrick); Taieri v. Port Chalmers, Bathgate Park No. 1, 3 p.m. (Mr C. Slaughter); University Ev. University F, to be played later; Kaikorai v. Zingari, Bishopscourt No. 1, 3 p.m. (Mr F. Henderson); High School v. Pirates A, Carisbrook, 1.30 p.m. (Mr H. Palenski). Third Grade, Section 2. —Union v. Brighton, Brighton. 3 p.m. (Mr E. Barion) ; Southern v. Green Island, Bathgate Park No. 2, 3 p.m. (Mr G. Procter); Pirate,} B v. Dunedin, Logan Park No. 1, 3 p.m. (Mr A. Shanks); University Gv. Zingari, to be played later. Fourth Grade. —Kaikorai v. Christian Brothers High School, Bishopscourt No. 2, 3 p.m. (Mr S. Hayden); Zingari v. Pirates, Montecillo No. 1. 3 p.m. (Mr S. 13111100; High School A v. Alhambra, Littlebourne Park, 3 p.m. (Mr L. Wright); Port Chalmers v. Union, North Ground, 3 p.m. (Mr W. Harridge); Taieri v. Southern, Mosgiel No. 1, 3 p.m. (Mr G. Strode); Dunedin v. M'Glashan, M'Glashau, 3.p.m. (Mr A. Lungley); High School B a bye. Fifth Grade.—Ravensbourne v. Alhambra, Ravensbourne No. 1, 3 p.m. (Mr G. Lewis); Southern v. High School B, De Carle Park, 1.30 p.m. (Mr E. Heather); High School A a bye; Zingari v. Christian Brothers, Montecillo No. 2, 3 p.m. (Mr G. D. Gray); Green Island v; Technical, Green Island, 3 p.m. (Mr N. Tillcy). If Carisbrook is unfit the curtain-raiser will be played at Culling Park at 3 p.m. Palmerston v. Waikouaiti, Palmerston (Mr W. Flawn). Dunback v. Seacliff. Seac!iff.(Mr H. C. Williamson). Line Umpires—Carisbrook; 3 p.m.. J. Briggs and Blagdon; 1.30 p.m., J. Peat and Warwick. TOUR OF JAPAN DOMINION SIDE KEENLY WANTED. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, May 21. Inquiries as to the prospect.of a Rugby team from New Zealand making a tour of Japan have been made from time to time during the past few" years. It was hoped at first that a provincial side might have undertaken a tour and at that time Wellington and Auckland were suggested as sides of the calibre desired for a missionary tour. After that, there being no indication of a visit from New Zealand. Australia was sounded with the result that an Australian universities team visited Japan recently and on a most enjoyable tour discovered that Rugby football was well established and of an improving standard. A visit from New Zealand is apparently still keenly, desired by Japan, but as has been stated there is ho likelihood for some time to come of a full strength side from the Dominion making the trip, and the calls are too great for next year s tour of the Home countries and • Canada being extended to include a visit to Japan. However, the possibilities of a New Zealand University team following the train laid by the Australian universities are being discussed, and some hope is entertained that a team may go to Japan at the end of the year. The matter, of course, is one for negotiation between the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Rugby authorities in Japan. Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the NewZealand Rugby Union, states that his body has not even considered the question. In university Rugby circles, however, the matter of a trip to Japan is a live topic.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS' GAMES

The following is the draw for primary schools' Rugby matches for to-morrow, commencing at 3 p.m.:— B Grade.—Union Street v. Arthur Street, at North Ground (Mr Stewart); Kensington v. Musselburgh, at Oval No. 2.

Bantam Grade.—Arthur Street v. High Street, at Montecillo No. 1; Macandrew Road I v. Forbury I, at Bathgate Park No. 1; St. Clair I v. Musselburgh I, at Hancock Park; Caversham I v. Kensington, at Oval No. 3 (Mr Palenski); Macandrew Road II v. Musselburgh 11, at Bathgate Park No. 2; Forbury II v. St. Clair 11, at De Carle Park.