AN EXPLANATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 2 June 1923, Page 8

AN EXPLANATION.

To tho Editor of the “Timaru Herald.”

Sir, —I have been approached by footballers to know why I stood alone in the matter of play on Saturday. The report in yesterday’s “Herald” hardly places the matter in the proper light. It is said a unanimous vote decided on a certain action. How the voting went at previous meetings was never reported, therefore I think I am entitled to make an explanation of the position. The first vote on the 21st was three for and two against play on Saturday. The chairman pressed those not voting, and got it to three each way, and’ threw it out on his casting vote. A member did not exerise his vote, but said he was in favour of playing. I therefore moved that the motion be rescinded, and it was a week later at a full meeting by five to two. I then moved that all games be played on Saturday. This also was carried by 5 to 2, showing that I was not standing alone. Agitation was then set up to upset our decision. A deputation—wrongly described as the captains of town teams —met the Management Committee. As any direct appeal to the management was against the rules of the S.C.R.U. I raised a point of order at the meeting held after the deputation retired, and the chariman upheld my appeal and ruled that our decision arrived at by five to must stand and “that all matebe must be played on Saturday.’ Surely two decisions to play were enough for one week, and shoulu have ended the question, and pro ure set down by the British House of Commons says it does end it, and it is on this procedure all our meetings should be conducted, and on that account I ruled out ot order the same matter v.'iieu luoug l ‘ on the following evening, not thiouMany antagonism to playeis. I have no feeling over the matter, but desire to put myself right in the eyes of the players. All along mv contention was that playing on Saturday and again on Monday was no strain on the stamina of the fine, athletic young men who comprise the South Canterbury footballers, -nd I have yet to be convinced that I was wrong—l am, etc., J. B. CROWLEY. Timaru.

(The report in yesterday’s “Herald” was perfectly accurate when it stated that the latest decision was arrived at unanimously, and Mr Crowley has overlooked that the previous day it was reported that the first motion was earned by the chairman’s casting vote. Mr Crowley says the chairman ruled that “ our decision arrived at by 5 to 2 must stand, and ‘ that all matches must be played on Saturday.’ ” The chairman’s ruling, we : are informed, was to the effect that : the matter could not then be reopened because notice of motion had not been given..—Ed. T.H.”) i