TRAVELLING FOOTBALLERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2949, 21 September 1910, Page 61

TRAVELLING FOOTBALLERS.

THE WaIKOUAITI-WAIIIEMO TEAM Tlie inquiry into the conduct of tho travelling footballers between Dunedin and Waikous ti and Palmerston was resumed at, the meeting of the Otago Rugby Union Committe- on Monday night. The District Traffic Manager of Railways wrote as follows: —“District Traffic Manager’s Office, Dunedin, September 19, 1910. The Secretary, Otago Rugby Union. Dunedin. Sir, —In reply to jour ;avour of tho 15th inst., 1 bog to inform you that the request from the Palmerston secretary was for a permit for 15. Reserved accommodation was provided for 10. Fifteen only booked. Of tho balance < ' the passengers travelling from Palmers ion to Dunedin vhe majority would no doubt bo friends of the team. There \ . ample room and to spare. On arrival at Dunedin Mr M'Donald mentioned to the .stationmaster that ho had 18 members (three more than lie had tickets for), and that he was short of room. The stationmaster pointed out that his party was understood to consist of 15, and that, a. long carriage could not be put or for the convenience of two passengers. The guard states that on tho return journey there were a: out four passengers standing in the rose ved compartment. These were, presumably, other members of the club, or, at least,

T friends qf the team, and w-?ll known to the party, but the guard naturally assumed that all in the oar were members of the same party. The stationmaster at_ Palmerston, was not aware of the condition of ! the car until after its return to Dunedin. j The guard is positive that the passengers I referred to in his former report were mom- ! bera of the Waihemo-Waikouaiti team, and that they travelled in the first-class compertment. This further information is, however, to a large extent beside the main point of my complaint. A permit was issued to allow the Waihemo-Waikouaiti team to travel from Palmerston to Dunedin and back first-class on second-class tickets. The team was supposed to consist of 15 members, and the department reserved accommodation for 16 each way. Another permit was granted on the aj> plication of the secretary of the Waikouaiti Club, ostensibly to play a matoh, but in I reality to travel as a pleasure party. Their j permit authorised them to travel secondclass from Waikouaiti to Dunedin and back at reduced fares. It, however, now appears that six of the Waikouaiti players actually belonged to the Waihemo-Wai-kouaiti team. This being so, why did the manager take out 15 tickets from Palmerston, having only nine or 10 players? And, further, to whom did he issue the balance of the Palmereton tickets, and why was it not stated in the first place that six of the players wore coming from Waikouaiti? As to the accommodation on the return journey, I notice by newspaper reports Mr M'Donaid acknowledges that only 10 players returned, six of these leaving the train at Waikouaiti, and only four completing the journey to Palmerston. If, therefor::, the compartment was crowded, the manager should undoubtedly have asked the guard to request those not belonging to the party to leave the compartment which he knew had been reserved for hi 9 team His failure to do so can admit of only one answer. There was plenty of room in other cars on the train. The six Waikouaiti players were not entitled to tiavel first-class, nor were the four who returned to Palmerston. Tho permits-- provided for a minimum of 12 travelling together in each case, and I am, therefore, taking steps to recover the difference in the fares. For your information, I attach copy of Guard Venn's report dealing further with the condition of the car when being brought back from Palmerston on the Monday morning, and would draw your attention to the date of this report—i.e., September 9. I also enclose extract from Giard Watt's additional statement as to what took place ;»n the return journey Further comment is unnecessary. I may, however, remark there is no doubt in my mind that the guard would have been perfectly justified in putting several of these passengers off the -train, as they were ovidently not in a fit state- to travel." Guard Watt reported as follows on September 15:—"Mr M'Donald states that only 10 players returned', yet he desired a larger oar than*that placed at his disposal (one seating 16). When spoken lo by me re conduct of his team he excused his men on the plea of not sufficient accommodation, at the same time expressing his helplessness to control them. Hie states ho has no knowledige of any beer being taken into the car, yet admits he saw one bottle opened; also that none of the team were semi-intoxicated, yet he admits one of them was sick. To my knowledge there were a number of bottles of beer taken into the car; also that the vomiting started early on the journey, and was of a very extensive nature. When uncoupling the car at Waitati the couplings were aiready covered in vomit. One of the players, who occupied an end seat, sat for most of the journey to Palmerston; with his head half out of the window vomiting-, part of it goinig out of the car, part of it resting ojn the window-sill and j seat of the oar. When I was collecting' I tihe tickets two of the players were so far: ■ : gone in intoxication that others in the car had to search their pockets for their tickets." Guard Venn reported to the stationmaster at Dunedin on September 9 as follows:—"Re our conversation re oar AIOO4-, ex-Palmerston, by 7.0 a.m. train, 29-8-10. The first compartment of this oar was very uirty when leaving Palmerston. I did not see it until after leaving Palmerston, and I noticed the floor covered with filth, trotter bones, banana skins, etc., and one or two seats were smothered in beer> I stains, and down one side of the car was i vomit. I must have thrown out of the ' car at least a dozen bones, cigarette butts, matches, etc." The following letter from the secretary of the Palmerston Football Glub was also read:—" Palmerston, Sept. 19, 1910. The secretary, Otago Rugby Union, Dunedin Dear Sir, —At a meeting; consisting of the Palmerston members of the WaihemoWaikouaiti football team and residents of Palmerston who travelled on the railwaytrain between Dunedin and Palmerston on the evening of the 27th August last, it was unanimously resolved —'That the report of the conduct of the football team and the condition of the railway compart- : meat as given by Manager M'Donaid to the Otago Rufrbv Football Union on Monday evening last bs endorsed as the truo faxr:ts concerning; the conduct of the men and the state of the car; and. further, that the reports of the railway officials allegin;,' that the car was left in a filthy conditio i aro untrue so far as the reports apply to t;he car occupied by the members o £ this meeting.' " Mr M'Donaid (manager of the team) was present when the above letters were read, and when asked by the chairman if he could say anything, said he could not say anything to his previous remarks. He was willing to answer any questions. He must contradict the iruard when ho said there were two members intoxicated who eould not handle tlvjir tickets. The man who was sick belonged to the team, a.nd there was another man asleep who did not. belong to the team. There was not a man in the car intoxicated and unable to look after himself. He purchased 15 tickets at Palmerston, these including those for six Waikouaiti players. Mr Templeton (secretary of the Waikouaiti Club) had no'hing whatever to do with those included in the team. Those 19 man wore outside that team. The Chairman (Mr Campbell): " In the face of these extra reports you still say that your members were in a fit state to travel ?" Mr M'Donaid: "Yes, I do." Venn had told him. he continued, there was nothing to complain about. The stationmaster or Palmerston had also said there was nothing to complain about to him. Now the r;-'.r'l put in a report that went to the v- ntra- ~ The Chairman pointed out that Mr M'Donaid had had no right to allow tho

outsiders to ride in the reserved carriage. He was there as the manager of the team, and the onus lay upon him to see that no on© else got into the oar. If they did, he must take the responsibility. , Mr M'Donald said in response to fur- f ther questions, there was no beer drunk that he knew of, rfnd as to vomiting,'' there was only one player (a non-drinker, by the way) in the car who was sick. Ae to the statements of the porter at Pal- > merston, h© considered that if his life 1 ' depended on his statements —well, he would have to get insured over again. The Chairman further referred to the point that Mr M'Donald left Dunedin with only 10 players and with accommoda- ' tion for 16, arid yet complained thero ] was no room. These other people should never have been allowed in.

Mr Sincock raised the point as to' whether they could have Denham Palmerston porter) before the committee' to see why be had not reported the matter to the stationmaster at Palmerston. !

Some discussion hinged on this point, and en opinion of dissatisfaction at the evidence of that porter was expressed. l¥ was said, however, that the railway reguc lations would not allow him to appea« before the committee.

On Mr M'Donald retiring, the Chair* man asked: Was the committee prepared to come to a decision or procure more information ?

Mr Dunne referred again to the porter at Palmerston. Mr Wilson expressed the opinion that* the porter had made up a cock-and-bull story. His letter made them all think that when the train arrived there it was in a filthy state. After it had been referred to him he sent another letter further on, when he admitted that the team did not travel in a smoker, but in another car, and he made another story altogether. It seemed to him that that man neglected his duty, and when the complaint was made made up this story to shield himself.

Mr Sincock said what he did not like about his evidence was that he said ho was sick, and then had the cheek to send the carriage back to Dunedin in that state. The thing seemed to bo greatly exaggerated, and in his report he had certainly " brushed it up pretty stiff." Mr White said if there had been neglect it had been on the part of the railway staff at Palmerston. If Mr M'Donald had been interviewed then the matter could have been settled there and then. It etruck him that it was not fair to travelling teams that these complaints should be made unless they were made at the rifrht time and at the right end. Mr Low aeked could they not close the inquiry by stating that the actual conduct of the team was altogether exemplary. He thought they were only prolonging tns thing and gaining nothing. If the manager said it was not members of the team and the other men at Palmerston agreed with him, he thought they might believe these men. He thought they olose the thing un altogether. He did not think the Railway Department had proved its exaggerated statements. Mr Gallawav did not agree with Mr Low., He thought they should hold a fulL and proper inquiry and ask the Railwa; Department to bring all its evidence before them, so that Mr M'Donald might have the opportunity of cross-examining. There was certainly a case to answer.

The Chairman, after a time, said if the committee would settle the points that had struck him they might come to some conclusion. These were:—(l) Was the car occupied by members who were not entitled to be present ">; (2) Was there drinking going on in the car ?: (3) Was there vomiting in the car?; (4) Did the manager exercise sufficient control ovcar his team? These questions were answered as fol» lowe:—1. 2, and 3, Yes; 4. No. Then, four points were then embodied in * finding. On the ouestion of a penalty Mr LoW moved—" That as there were other persons than the Waihemo team travelling in the oarriairo this union cannot accept responsibility for the actions of those outRiders, and that as far as the conduct oi the team is concerned there is nothing to njove that there was anything wrong in their behaviour."

Mr Wilson seconded this motion. Mr Sincock made the eutrgostion that a committee should bo appointed to draw up in proper form a report on the findings of the committee and submit to the next meeting. , Mr Gallaway moved in this direction, and this amendment was declared carried. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Smcock. Callaway, and Low were appointed. Arisinsr out of this case, the secretary of the Waikouaiti Club advised that permission had been souorht for a party of 20 to travel to Dunedin. It was decided that, as the club had traveled without the permission of the union, it s.ioukl b* asked for an explanation.