FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17411, 25 May 1928, Page 9

FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Whilst at Rugby Park last Saturday I overheard the following conversation.' “Aren’t you fellows playing to-day? The answer was, “Yes, but 1 have been stood down for two playing Saiurdays because-I did not.weigh in before I played in the first match of the season,” Considering this could not be correct, I got into conversation with this player and learnt, to my surprise, that he was an ex-High School pupil of last season. Whilst at school he had never been -asked to weigh in officially, and as he was well under weight of lOst 71b, being 9st 01b in his clothes, he was not aware that it was necessary lo weigh in lirst. Further, I found that the team lie was playing for had 17 players officially weighed in; that no captain had been elected until all the team, was on the ground; also that this was a new rule brought in this, season. Asked if he was called upon by Ihe union to explain his reason, he informed lie ,was not given Lhat privilege. On making further enquiries into this matter, J am informed on good authority that this player was dealt with at a special general meeting called within 24 hours, whereas the constitution reads: “Three days’ notice in writing must be given to all delegates before a special general meeting can be held.” 1 also understand more than one delegate did not receive any notice of such meeting, verbal or otherwise, if this is a fact then 1 consider the meeting was out of order, very much more so than the player who did not weigh, and that he in consequence had not been dealt with according to tiie constitution and was at liberty to play until such time as a properly constituted meeting had been convened. 1 understand three players all told omitted lo weigh in as directed. One of these last Saturday took the field in a higher grad% game, thinking he was justilied in doing so, hut 1 notice in to-niglit’s report that he lias been penalised and that the Learn he played for lias had the game taken away from them for playing him last Saturday. Now, if the' Rugby unions are going to do- these sort of tilings, why do not they act consistently and stick to the rules and regulations-in all grades and cases? I have noticed on several occasions notices that all senior players must wear the' correct numbers supplied by the Rugby Union when playing on Rugby Park. Now, on each three Saturdays I have noticed one or more senior players without numbers and others with wrong numbers. 1 consider this a far more serious matter than the weighing-in matter; and then again, if they want to he so strict why was a player allowed to play who had

not been “14 clear days resident ’ as fhe rule states? Certainly 1 understand he was only about 15 or 16 hours short of it, but t.he boys who did not weigh were considerably less short of that in being weighed in . Surely what is fair for the senior should be fair for a third, fourth and fifth grade player. 1 have followed Rugby football in Hamilton for many years, and if 1 remember right the first’ offenders every season were given a caution and let off. Why not this year? In fact more than one player ordered off last season was let off with a caution. British fair play demands giving every person, guilty or otherwise, a chance to appear in pe’rson and hear the evidence against him before being sentenced. Why was this not done? Surely Russian rule is not creeping in lo our football too! Hoping that a satisfactory explanation will he forthcoming.—l am, etc., FOOTBALL SUPPORTER.