RUGBY PLAYERS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 86, 7 April 1934, Page 8

RUGBY PLAYERS

AND INSURANCE FUND ABUSES ALLEGED The bad. state of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union’s insurance fund was stressed by two members of the union at the annual general meeting held in Napier last evening. Both Mr. N. A. McKenzie and Mr. J. W. Callaghan advocated that the union take definite steps without delay to ensure the scheme being placed upon a better footing and to. eradicate some irregularities on the part of clubs and sub-unions. A recommendation was made to the incoming committee to ensure periodical certificates being obtained in the case of injured players. The question was raised by Mr. McKenzie, who stated that the loss through insurance last year was considerable. If such a loss continued, there would be no funds to foster the game or to assist injured footballers. It was the. opinion of the management committee in office during the past year that there had been a certain amount of laxity in regard to the manner in which the sub-unions and clubs had considered the insurance scheme, particularly in regard to the payment of subscriptions. . It had been decided that a final appeal should be made to sub-unions and clubs to safeguard and foster the scheme, failing which the clubs and sub-unions might have to adopt a scheme of their own, Mr. McKenzie quoted instances where players had taken wrongful advantage of the insurance scheme, such as obtaining payments of insurance moneys for trivial accidents which were not serious enough to keep them from their employment. There was one instance, indeed; where a player had claimed the advantages of the scheme for a “cauliflower” ear.

The union’s honorary treasurer, Mr J. W. Callaghan, agreed with the remarks made by Mr. McKenzie and added that there was at present only £l2 left in the insurance fund.