A BASKETBALL DISPUTE.

Southland Times, Issue 21718, 2 June 1932, Page 10

A BASKETBALL DISPUTE.

To the Editor.

Sir, —As so many misleading statements. are being made about the actions of the Southland Basketball Association in its dealings with the Kiwi team, I should be indebted to you for publishing the following statement:— Upon the report of the referee complaining of the conduct of the Kiwi team during the Kiwi-Rata match on August 29, 1931, the executive decided “that the Kiwi first grade team be suspended from the association until an apology for rudeness to the referee is received.” An amendment “that the team be warned this time and suspended on the next count of questionable behaviour” lapsed for want of a seconder. The executive felt that members of the team having offended, it was quite reasonable to expect •an apology. A deputation from the club was received and given full opportunity to state its case and place all issues before the executive. After hearing the deputation the executive adhered to its former decision.

The match in question being the last of the 1931 season the action of the executive would have been brought up at the annual meeting for confirmation, but for the fact that I, personally, was assured by both the president and secretary of Kiwi, after the annual meeting of their club, that an apology would be forthcoming. A special general meeting on April 14 unanimously carried the following: “That the action of the executive in suspending the 1931 Kiwi first grade team for rudeness to a referee until an apology is received be confirmed.” At the second general meeting called a week later the motion, notice of which was given at the previous meeting, “that the motion of suspension on the Kiwi 1931 first grade team be rescinded with a view to imposing a penalty of suspension for two playing Saturdays” was rejected by 25 votes to 14. Should the Kiwi Club consider itself aggrieved by this ruling of the executive, twice confirmed by general meeting, it has the right of appeal to the executive of the New Zealand Basketball Association and further right of appeal to the annual council meeting of the same body. Your correspondents appear to be under the impression that two players were reported. This is not so; the team was reported. Consequently the penalty imposed applies to the team. No member is being asked to apologize for something she did not do. Rudeness is acknowledged and the team is asked to apologize for any rudeness of which any of its members may have been guilty. I, personally, should be only too pleased to see the Kiwi team reinstated upon compliance with this reasonable request for an apology for acknowledged rudeness.

The Southland Basketball Association aims at having all the games under its jurisdiction played in a clean, sporting spirit. We would invite any of your readers who would like to see for themselves this healthful sport for girls and get some idea of how it is conducted, to visit the association’s courts in Duke street on Friday next when 500 players will be participating in the annual King’s Birthday tournament from 9 a.m. till 4.30 pan., or on any Saturday afternoon.—l am, etc., E. B. PAY, President, Southland Basketball Assn.