NEPIA’S LAPSE.
FAILURE TO PLAY.
EAST COAST COMPLAINT.
NEW SELECTOR APPOINTED
(From Our Own Correspondent.) TOKOMARU BAY, Auckland Star, 1 August 1934.
George Nepia, ex-All Black full-back, who was one of the selectors of the East Coast Rugby team, and who disappointed his public when at the last minute he excused himself from traveling to Napier, after having selected himself in the team, was freely criticized at a subsequent meeting of the East Coast Union. Nepia’s selection of the 1034 East Coast team also created indignation when it was seen that after a North v. South match he had selected the whole North team with the exception of two players. One South man, Crawford, also an ex-All Black, and Nepia himself filled these two places.
Nepia was the North selector. Nepia placed himself as full-back, and at the last moment refused to travel. His action had a sequel when the manager of the touring team reported on the tour to a meeting of the East Coast Rugby Union. Mr. Larsen, the manager, attributed the team’s failure against Napier and against Wairoa to the fact that Nepia himself had failed to travel, and had selected unfit players. It was not until half-time in the Napier match that Mr. Larsen solved the mystery of the backs’ poor showing. He then discovered that P. Atkins and T. Morete, both playing as five-eighths, had suffered injuries before they started on the tour. Atkins could only use one arm, and Morete had a knee injury. Mr. H. Poananga, assistant manager of the team, tabled a written report in which ho strongly criticized the selection. The union considered the following motion, which- had been carried by the Tolaga Bay Sub-Union: “This sub-union wishes to express dissatisfaction at the selection and attribute the team’s failure to record wins to (1) Lack of sound selection; (2) the fact that injured players were allowed to travel; and (3) the selector himself failed to travel after putting his own name in the team: We consider it high time that a decided change in the selection of East Coast teams should be made.”
Reason For His Absence. Mr. Rickard (Waiapu) said Nepia belonged to his sub-union. In conversation with Nepia on the Monday, the day before the team left, Nepia had told him ho would not travel, as the boy he employed was ill and he could get no one in his place. Nepia intimated the had informed tho union chairman earlier. He had played in the trial game at Ruatoria on the Saturday, when the chairman had not approached him. Mr. T. H. Reedy (chairman): The explanation apparently rests with me, then. I spoke to Nepia after the dinner following the North-South match, and told him, though I didn’t want this made public— Mr. A. W. Kirk (secretary): Better take it in committee then. It was pointed out that the public was entitled to an explanation, and would ask for it. Mr. Reedy: You can publish it. I havo nothing to be ashamed of. He said Nepia had arranged to telephone him before the team left, but had not done so.
Question of Expenses. Mr. P. Whaipooti (Ruatoria): It is rumored that Nepia has received £5 in the past for traveling. Mr. Reedy: At a Maori meeting last week-end a public statement was made by the Rev. P. M. Kohere that Nepia would have travelled if £5 had been sent to him. Tho Maori viewpoint was that this was right and proper. Mr. Whaipooti: The Rev. Kohere is not the sort of man to make a statement like that without reason. Mr. Prince (Tolaga): I’ve never heard of tho union paying anyone. Mr. Reedy said ho had told Nepia that possibly wages for a man on his farm might be found. From the following debate the opinion emerged that the union itself had made no official payment, and Mr. Larsen said players were entitled to out-of-pocket expenses only. Mr. Kirk: Would you consider a man’s wages out-of-pocket expenses for his employer if the latter travelled? Mr. Reedy: You might. Mr. Rickard: Nepia, in this respect, is an isolated case. Still, it was not fair to turn down the union at the eleventh hour. Mr. Larsen: I understand that this is not the first time this has happened in Nepia’s case. Mr. Kirk: He turned us down when he had been selected to travel to Gisborne on one occasion. Mr. Reedy: Well, it has been rumored that on one occasion he refused to go on in a sub-union game until a certain private individual had found £5. Voices: That’s making a professional of him.
“Wanted to See Nepia.” Mr. Reedy said he did his very best to get Nepia away and would have taken him on the Wednesday (the day before the Hawke’s Bay match) in his own car. He was not responsible in any way for his not traveling. Hawke’e Bay wanted to see Nepia, not East Coast, said Mr. Kirk, and Mr. Larsen produced an elaborate 24-page programme of the match, in which Nepia was “starred.” The programme was officially issued by the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union and a full page of letterpress was devoted to Nepia under
a reproduction of his photograph. Under the heading “Big Disappointment,” Nepia’s inability to travel is lamented, and a lengthy description of his past performances and rise- to international brilliance was printed. Mr. Larsen moved that Nepia’s services as a selector be dispensed with, but Mr. Rickard moved an amendment that Nepia should appear before the union to explain his actions, and that decision be deferred until then. He maintained that Nepia’s failure to travel did not reflect upon his ability as a selector, and that the motion was unfair. Mr. Larsen: The team he gave me included men who were unsound. Why? Mr. G. Stainton: Is it not the duty of the union to see that the selected team is fit Mr. Reedy: It is the selector’s duty. Mr. Rickard: Even in a court of law every man lias a right to defend himself. You can’t condemn him unless he’s here to do so. Displaced as Selector. On Mr. Rickard’s suggestion Mr. Larsen altered his motion to read: “That the union have no confidence in Nepia as a selector.” Mr. Reedy: Nepia promised to ring mc and I awaited final word from him. I said: “It is you the crowd want to see, George.” Mr. Larsen: We must also weigh that public statement about £5. Mr. Stainton: Give him a fair go. Mr. Reedy: If Nepia appears before a later meeting of this union you will have to elect another chairman. After further argument Mr. Reedy decided to put the amendment, and insisted on a secret ballot. Mr. Rickard: When I vote, I vote. Why a secret ballot? That’s the trouble with all these things. There’s too much secrecy. The amendment was lost by Ave votes to three, every member voting, and the altered-motion sponsored by Mr. Larsen was carried by six votes to two. Mr. W. Morete is the new East Coast co-selector elected.
Source: Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 180, 1 August 1934, Page 9
NEPIA MAKES PEACE.
EAST COAST RUGBY APOLOGY (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
GISBORNE, this day. At a meeting of the management committee of the East Coast Rugby Union, an explanation was given by George Nepia, the famous All Black, of the reasons which prevented him traveling with the representative team to Napier, and defending his selection of the’ players, for which he had been censured by the union.
The following resolution was carried: “We, the East Coast Union, do apologize to Nepia in being so hasty in dispensing with his services as selector, and condemning him on charges brought without giving him a hearing.” Nepia then withdrew the statement that he would not don the East Coast Jersey.
Source: Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 245, 16 October 1934, Page 8
