RUGBY CONTROL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 234, 2 October 1929, Page 10

RUGBY CONTROL

WANGANUI REPRESENTATION CITY WANTS A BIGGER SAY That the Metropolitan Rugby Union was worthy of greater representation on the parent body, the Wanganui Rugby Union, was tho opinion of Messrs C. H. Warden and J. Moye given voice to at a meeting of club delegates held last night. Mr Moye initiated discussion by pointing out that the Metropolitan area had 46 teams, Taihape 18 and Rangitikei about 19, yet the major body had just the same representation as the other two. Mr E. O’Meara, who had been prominently associated with the Rugby Union when the present scheme of management was inaugurated, held that the rules, by providing that the offices of president, secretary and treasurer on the Rugby Council should be filled by Wanganui men, automatically gave the city the greater share of representation. Mr Warden was of opinion that representation according to teams was fairer. The three officers referred to by the previous speaker were Wanganui men merely for convenience sake. They were not representatives of the Metropolitan Union. Mr G. H. Pownall: They are entirely independent representatives who have unbiassed opinions. He said that when he ■was a representative of the Metropolitan Union on the Council he had not seen eye to eye with the Metropolitan management committee. He had adopted an unbiassed attitude. If Wanganui could persuade Taihape and Rangitikei that the constitution should be altered he did not think any member of the Council would oppose greater representation for the city. He considered that all members of the Council should look at matters from a broad point of view. If judged on a number of teams’ basis, Wanganui undoubtedly had the right to another delegate? but they could not do anything without the support of Rangitikei and Taihape. Mr Moye: Will you support us? Mr Pownallr Not without consulting with the others. He held the opinion that Mr Moye looked at matters entirely from a Metropolitan point of view. Mr Moye: If I think there is a weakness , or something wrong, I say so. I do think there .is a weakness. The Council is not democratic at all.

Mr Pownall intimated that, personally, he was in favour of more representation. He did not know what the others on the Council thought. It was the first time he had considered the matter and he might be precipitate in saying he was in support of Mr Moye’s request He did not know of any incident this year in which Wanganui and the interests of outside unions had clashed. Mr Moye: You're right there. There’s been more harmony this year. Mr Warden said that they were making no charges against the Union. What was wanted was an alteration to the constitution. Mr O’Meara: If you make a change make it a radical one. Throw the positions open to men residing anywhere in the district. If those men who are in now don’t represent you, then, for the love of goodness, don’t nominate them. But they are sports, or they ■wouldn’t be there. Mr Warden’s personal opoinion was that Wanganui should stand alone. They would be better off. Mr R. Whiting: We should never have lost control. Mr J. Molan: We sold our birthright. Mr J. Moye condemned the rule adopted by the Union recently whereby an officer of a sub-union was prevented from holding office on the major body. "That is a most undemocratic thing,” he averred. "I oppose it. I want everybody to know that. You call me a ‘Bolshevik’ on that Council, but if I think a thing’s wrong I say so.” ! The outcome of the discussion was that a round table conference between the Metropolitan body and the Wanganui Rugby Union will be held at which the proposal will be thoroughly aired. MATCH WITH MAORIS mcphail replaces steerh, [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTSON, Oct. 1. Steere, of Hawke’s Bay, cannot piny against the Maoris to-morrow. McPhail (Poverty Bay), comes into the New Zealand team.