THE DUNCAN CASE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12546, 8 July 1905, Page 5

THE DUNCAN CASE.

THE NEW ZEALAND UNION'S

EXPLANATION

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, July 7. At a meeting of the N.Z. Union tonight, it was decided to place the Union's views in regard to the appointment of Duncan 'as coach to the team before the affiliated unions. A circular letter to the Unions was accordingly drafted. In this the Union stated that an assistant to the manager was, after mature consideration, deemed essential. Duncan was asked if he would be prepared to go as coach,, subject to the direction and control of the manager in all things, and he consented, which virtually means that Duncan will not only be coach, but he will be at the manager's call to assist generally in looking after the interests pf the members of the team, and in any other capacity the manager may direct. The fact that Duncan can, if it becomes absolutely necessary, don the jersey on occasions, and in some manner make, up fur the absence of the twenty-sixth player, was also a consideration. In making the particular appointment the committee feel that it is of paramount importance to have some one available tr« closely observe the tactics of their opponents, if necessary, by advance visits.to the various counties, and to advise as to the introduction of frequent and effective changes in the style of play to be adopted. The committee feel that they have chosen the best man available. The committee point ' out that the liability they would be subject to were they to cancel the appointment is such that they cannot accept it} and that therefore, in the event of „.; the, affiliated unions deciding that a coach shall not be sent, the committee" have no option but to take that decisicjti as a vote of want of confidence, andi; to leave the responsibility of cancelling the appointment to those who desire to accept it.

There will be eight cup matches played to-day. The game between Wanganui and T. Y.M.I, should result in a win for tho red and black, although, in view of'ths surprises effected in matches this season, it would bo hard to predict anyl resulti with certainty. The Kaierau-Pirates match will no doubt result in a hard battle, but the result is decidedly open. However, Kaierau have not improved in forni lately, while Pirates have now a fairly1 good combination, and should give a good account of themselves. A motion recently tabled by Mr. D. Weir, of the Wellington Union, that tho Press should be excluded from meetings of the committee in the interests of tho game, lapsed for want of a seconder. Commenting on the matter, a local scribe says: The rest of the committee had enough intelligence to know that tho very best interests of the game an* conserved where tho Press and public are free to be the recorders and judges of any public body's doings. The com* mitteo will have the whole faith of the community as long as it shows that it is doing its utmost to car© for the good of the national game, and it can only do that by hiding nothing. According to advices from Wellington it is thought probable that the support* ers of tho Auckland protest against thd appointment of Duncan-as coach to the New Zealand team will be found in the majority when the votes come to be cast up at the special meeting of the council of the New Zealand Union oil July 18. Should this prove to be : the case, it. is on the cards that the Management Committee of the governing body will take the vote as one of nocoimdenco and resign in a body. The illogical resolution passed by the Wanganui Union with reference to the appointment of a coach for the New Zealiand team has been widely discussed this week. The committee were first unanimously of opinion that a coach for tho team was unnecessary. After ex-> pressing these views, a majority of those present passed a resolution instructing the Union's delegate to support the New Zealand Rugby Union in its decision in appointing a coach. The position is that thus the Wanganui Union's delegate has to vote in opposition to the expressed opinion or the Union ha represents. There is a fair chance that the Australian team to visit the colony this year will play in Wanganui. At a meeting of the Wellington Un-. ion's Committee a member of the'Melrosa Club was disqualified for 2 years for abusing a referee.

The Wellington Union has instructed its delegate to support any motion in tho direction of vetoing the appointment of a coach for the team going Home.

A special general meeting of the Wanganm Union will be Held next Saturday evening in connection with the raising of debentures to assist the Unv ion's guarantee of £150 debentures to tho New Zealand team. It is probable that an alteration in the rule re forfeit i will also ba moved.