AUCKLAND LEAGUE’S TURN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 7

AUCKLAND LEAGUE’S TURN

Wants Action in “Dufty Case” ONE DELEGATE LEAVES MEETING "THAT it be a recommendation to the Council of Manage--1 ment of the New Zealand Rugby Football League that it make public the full facts of the ‘Dufty case’ as soon as possible” is the text of a resolution passed at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Football League last evening.

This is the latest movement in what has already gone down in League football history as the “Dufty case,” following on the suspension of Craddock Dufty. famous New Zealand and Auckland fullback, last Thursday evening by the New Zealand Council. The Auckland League last evening reached its decision after about 20 minutes’ dis- < ussion in committee, during which time the Press representatives present kicked their heels outside the board room. The league had not been in committee for more than a few minutes when Mr. K. J. Foster, representative on the Management Committee of the Ellerslie Club (Dufty’s club), left the room. In an interview with THE SUN Mr. Foster said He had raised a protest at the discussion being taken in committee, and stated that if it was not taken in open meeting he would be reluctantly compelled to leave the meeting. “My position was that I was representing the Ellerslie Club.” Mr. Foster said, “and I naturally wanted to take back to my club committee the discussion by the Management Committee of the Auckland League. This I could not do when the case was considered in committee, and so after a protest I left the room.” ELUERSLIE LODGES PROTEST The honorary secretary-treasurer of the Ellerslie Club, Mr. G. F. F. Harrison, stated this morning that his club had lodged a protest with the council against its action in suspending Dufty. The letter was sent through the Auckland Rugby League, and was probably read in committee last evening when the discussion was being taken. The club, in support of its protest, makes the following points: “First: C. Dufty was paid up and signed off the Australian tour by the New Zealand Council on the Wed-

ncsilriy a after the team's return to Auckland. Therefore. one minute after midnight on that day he passed from the direct control of the. New Zealand Council to that of his own club, the Ellerslie United League Club. “Second: The doctor’s certificate asked for was without reason and therefore Dufty’s own words that he was not lit to play on the Saturday should have been final, and more especially so as the managers of the New Zealand Rugby League team knew his position. “In all representative matches players selected are asked lo notify the selectors if they are not available—nothing more. “Throe: As Dufty was under the jurisdiction of his club from midnight on the Wednesday lie should have been notified through his club and thus have allowed that club’s ollioiuls to have discussed the matter and put tilings in order, as was the case of the other members of the New Zealand team who were called before the New Zealand Council. The latter were called on by League officiate and were armed to meet the occasion, “BOLT FROM THE BLUE” “Fourth: The very unnecessary delay in bringing the matter before the New Zealand Council. The council knew on the Saturday—the next week goes by—Dufty plays for his club against Richmond on the following Saturday—-and then on the Thursday after, like a bolt from the blue, ho receives a sentence of suspension, and the club receives its tirst official information of the treatment at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, September 6. “Fifth: Through this delay no time was allowed the officials of the club to appeal against the decision. For a player ivho has played so much and done his best for the game, who has proved a good attraction in both elub and representative football, and who has been spoken of so highly by his own as well as overseas visiting teams, to receive such a sentence imposed under the circumstances above is a blow that cannot readilv be forgiven.”