“HAS BEEN AFTER ME FOR LONG TIME.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 1

“HAS BEEN AFTER ME FOR LONG TIME.”

MR MOYLE REPLIES TO MR E. L. M’KEON. Mr W. S. E. Moyle writes to the •“Star" as follows: “Sir, —In your journal of April 28 there was published an interview with E. L. M’Keon, in which he made frequent and incorrect references to myself. This has been the case for some considerable period, and the references he makes, so far as I am concerned, are a gross distortion of facts. At Auckland he made an assertion that is in keeping with his views—that is, at the meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football League he made the admission that he had been after me for a long period. I have no desire to further ventilate what has become obnoxious to all decent-minded supporters, but in fairness to the majority of the players and supporters I must reply to the statements that have ben made. The object of E. L. M’Keon and his friends is that if I were removed from the local executive of the Canterbury Rugby League, then it would be to the advantage of their section. There were only two cases that were held in committee at the meeting of the council, and the second one was the case that I handed to your representative when asked for particulars, and your readers and the supporters of the local centre would be well aware that I made no reference to either Mr J. Carlaw, Mr W. O. Carlaw or Mr I. Culpan. as stated by E. L. M’Keon to your reporter the following day. He further states that the cause of

antagonism of some members of the New Zealand Council against me was due to my raising the sectarian issue. That is absolutely contrary to fact, and plainly demonstrates the object that he had in view. The facts of the incident were:—The meeting was discussing the agreement forwarded by the local executive in reference to the ground board. It was stated that the agreement had been approved by six-

teen votes to four, and reference was made as to the four votes recorded against the motion. I told the chairman that, at the annual meeting held here, a member of the delegation who had assisted to frame the agreement raised the question of the personnel of the board, and who elected them, the

speaker stating that the members of the board should be elected. I stated that I had supported that view* and that the reason why the delegate objected was that one, two, or perhaps three, of that board were members of the Catholic Association. There was no mention of the word Roman except by E- L. M’Keon. G. Ponder, who seconded, said that I had raised the sectarian issue. After he had? blundered I again informed the chairman that I had given the reason and reply of an executive official of the local centre. A Mr . Pollock followed, and he also said that I had raised the issue. He had heard before that I had done so, and after a lot more drivel he made mention of, I again asked the chairman if I had referred to anything other than a statement made at the annual meeting of the local centre, and again informed the meeting of the reason thereof. This did not antagonise the majority of the delegates against me; E. L. M'Keon had already done that business at Wellington in January last. I had been informed of that then, and again when I arrived at Auckland. My informant there stated, "Some of the members of the Council are after you, and have been supplied with all sorts of information from a certain source in Christchurch.” He sa}d that he wanted to put me on my guard. E. L. M’Keon then states that he moved the resolution that I be asked ta resign. He did. he has done so before, and has used all sorts of efforts and unsportsmanlike methods to achieve what he was after, but fortunately for the good of the game there are some sound and broad-minded members on the local executive who have frustrated all efforts. I have not l»cen suspended by the New Zealand Council, as E. L. M'Keon would like to have people believe. The Council, that is. some of them, supported a resolution that I tender my resignation. I informed them that that was a question for the Canterbury Rugby League , and that I would not resign; and the pub lie are aware of what followed at the recent meeting. T am advised at Auck-

land that a certain section had made ev ery effort to have me removed for their own purposes, and I was asked by all prominent members of the north em centre to stick to it. The voting at the meeting held here on Wednesday last will be sufficient to assure the local supporters of the truth of this statement, and you have only to read the names of the oppositionists to the tnobon passed to realise the position. "Will you piease inform vour readers wherein I made any mention that Mr J. ( arlaw or Mr W. Carlaw had supponed me. or where T made any reference to Mr I Culpan being at the meeting <>f the Council. This .statement made by E. L M'Keon demonstrates the fact that he does not stick to facts. T made no reference to anyone at all when ' our representative waited on me. I gave him the correspondence that 1 had received, which was quite sufficient to let. the supporters know the position of affairs with one party, who have proved on more than one occasion that they are not capable of honouring any agreement “E. L. M’Keon then refers to a letter from the secretary of the Council referring to his disqualification by a previous executive here. This was read at the meeting of the local executive on April 14. E. L. M’Keon stated to the meeting of the Council at Auckland that the letter and a letter from Mr G. Rhodes had not been read to the

meeting, but had only been read to certain members. I stated that that statement was contrary to fact, but it was in keeping with the usual tactics of E. L. M’Keon to say so. “In making desperate efforts to have the Council suspend me. E. L. M’Keon brought up incidents that had been satisfactorily dealt with by the local president some months ago, but anything is good enough to have a go with, and there has been one section parading their views for a long time past; in the near future the truth will dawn on them. A perusal of the delegates’ names, who have persistently voted one way, will convince any fair-minded supporter as to which way things have

gone, and it was further demonstrated at the last gathering. I appreciate the opportunity that you have given me for placing my side of the question be fore your readers, and I can vouch for the truth of the above statements.” —I am, etc., W. S. E. MOYLE,