CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2175, 27 April 1908, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Currospontlonco on publio matters is wi liomofl at nil times, but it must bo distinctly understood that this journal is in no way associated with tho'opinions of its correspondents.] THURSDAY FOOTBALL. [To tiie ICniTon.] Sir, —I wish to <lraw attention to what 1 consider to be the unfair treatment meted out to Thursday footballers by the Rugby Union. Some little time ago Messrs. Ryan Bros, donated a handsome cup to the P.8.11.CL, and left the Union to deride to which eomoelition the trophy should be allotted. By. some curious process of reasoning, it was decided that the cup should bo open lor competition bv file Third tirade teams, it being said' that the Seniors and Juniors had already trophies for which to play. Now, Sir, I should like, to ask the Union why, instead of giving the cup to the Third Grade, it was not allotted for competition by the Thursday teams? 1 would point out that tho Thursday footballers, number . somo seventy odd players, and it seems to me totally unfair that, in comparison with only some forty-five Third Grade nlayers, they should ho left without a trophy, whilst the cup, which is really worthy of n better grade than the third, should be given to a grade of which tho players number a"little over half of the Thursday players. It is, or it ought to he, the aini of tho Rugby Union to encourage football in every possible manner, irrespective of whether it be played on Thursday or Saturday. Then, too, it must lie remembered that this is the first season in which Thursday football is being earnestly taken up, and a success this year means a success for all time. ‘ln other words, if Thursday football receives adequate encouragement .-and assistance from the Rugby Union, it will mean that more players will be forthcoming, and that‘Rugby football in Poverty Bay will-have taken a further step towards advancement. I fail to see, on these grounds, liow the Rugby Union, if it honestly wished to encourage Thursday football, should have allotted Messrs. Rvan Bros.’ trophy to the Third Grade, meanwhile calmly passing over the Thursday players without the slightest acknowledgment or recognition of their being, or without, unless subsequent events prove otherwise, any desire to assist them in firmly establishing Thursday football in Poverty Bay. I have no doubt that when the members of the Union give this matter better and fuller consideration, they will recognise the injustice that is being done to mid-week players, and I trust that'they will reconsider their decision, and that the Thursday players may yet have the plaesurc of competing for the Rvan Cun. —I am, etc.. “JUSTICE.” ' April 25, 1908.

THE O’DOWD CASE. [To the Editor.] Sir, —As far as I know there was absolutely no enquiry about the boy O’Dowd, only that they may have had tea together, and nil agreed there. Dr Valintine asked me and the boy to lay a charge which we did. There was no evidence whatever such as might have brought to prove my statement. It was a public enquiry I asked Dr Valintine for, but ho put mo off with a rough voice, saying “I will have no enquiry.” 1 thought we were under British justice, but it appears we are under a Russian Government. Wc can only get in secret one side of the question, and have to put up with that. This shows how fur working men’s side of justice conies. If they had given a public enquiry 1 would have stuck to the trutli'tilj all would liavo .been ended. Why did the Hospital Committee (some* of them) say that the boy’s log should nob have come off? Why did they not prove that to tho people? This is no satisfaction to tho public which is calling for justice to others. 1 intend to see the thing cleared up; there will bo another course which may take a little time. I am, etc., JAMES O’DOWD.