FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 10 March 1932, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL REPORT. A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The annual report of the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association for the year ended March Ist, 1932, states that the relations between the New Zealand Rugby Union and the executive have been of the most cordial character. The executive agreed that there should be only one governing body of Rugby football in the Dominion, and that that body should control the playing of the game and the issuing of interpretation of the laws. The suggestion was made that decisions arrived .at by the executive, in reply to questions submitted by Associations, should first be endorsed by a special committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union before being circulated. The executive, while not conceding that the answers to questions were in the nature of interpretations of the laws, agreed to the suggestion, after the matter had been thoroughly discussed. This committee met regularly at midday on Tuesdays during the football season, Mr D. McKenzie, the chairman of the executive, attending to explain, if necessary, the views that prompted the decisions arrived at. It was thought at fir6t that this method would cause delay in issuing the answers to - questions, but generally the two bodies had been in agreement as to the replies. The main feature about this arrangement is that all decisions circulated have the approval of the New Zealand Rugby Union. As directed by the last annual meeting, the executive approached the New Zealand Rugby Union for a grant of £SO towards carrying out the work of the Association. In accordance with the resolution a deputation which waited on the governing body was well received, Subsequently an offer wat made of a grant of £2O towards the cost of .printing the handbook. The letter conveying this offer contained the suggestion that it would be advisable to hold conferences of the Association every two years, and not annually as at present. The executive felt that this was a condition that would have to be complied with if the grant was accepted, and as it could not agree that.'this w as the wish of affiliated Associations it did not ask for the £2O to be paid. Finance. In spite of last year's prediction that the printing of the new handbook would prove an expensive item, and that the funds of the Association would thereby be seriously depleted. it was pleasing to note that a balance of £6l 10s 8d was held as at March, 1932. The main item of expenditure was that of the expenses of the conference, but the executive was of the opinion that owing to tha great amount of good work done each year at the gatherings, the expense was justified in the interests of referees in particular and the game of Rusrby in general. The receipts amounted to £247 15s 2d, and payments to £lB6 6s JOd, leaving a credit balance of £6l 8s 4d. The excess of assets over liabilities ws £72 7s 4d. CHRISTCHURCH CLUB. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Christchurch Football Club was held last evening, Mr L. C. Matson presiding over a large attendance. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the chairman said that the club could feel gratified with the season. The membership had been sustained and the financial position was satisfactory. Success of the club-rooms was greatly assisted by the Social Committee, which had done fine work during the year. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr John Anderson; president, Mr J. R,. Evans: vice-presidents, Messrs L. C. Matson, C. S. McCully, A. I. Hughes, F. D. Sargent, D. E. Miller, and E. V.

Phillips; club captain, Mr 3>. M. -Mcßae; deputy-club captain, Mr. G H.. Fratcr; hon* secretary, Mr F. S. Taylor; assistant hon. secretary Mr E. A. Gasson; hon. treasurer, Mr H* L. Stephenson;, assistant hoa. treasurer, Mr A« C. C. Ifcobilliard; Management Committee, Messrs J. E. Manchester, A. I. Cottrell, R. A. Fulton, H. C/ Williams, P. Kirby, and M. F. Pengelly; hon. solicitor, Mr J. R. Hampton; delegates to Canterbury Rugby Union, Messrs £. V. Phillips, J*. C. Matson, A. I. Cottrell, and A. I. Hugbes; hon. auditors, Messrs E. L. Young and B. Taylor. • Tfie following were elected "old members of the club: —Messrs E. C. Ellison, G. Leahy, X. P. McGregor, C. F. O'Malley, A. C. Robilliard, and H. L. * It was decided that the annual subscription for senior active members of the club be lowered from 25s to 20s, reducible to 15s. Opening dsy for the season was fixed for Saturday, March 19th. 3-2-3 Formation. Discission took plac£ on the .recommendation from the New Zealand Rugby Union that affiliated Unions should adopt the 3-2-3 scrum formation, and that the new formation should be given a trial for the first two playing Saturdays of the season. Mr C. S. McCfully said that although he thought that the 15 men should be played wherever it was thought best, he considered that - the trial for two playing Saturdays would be worth while. Mr E. V. Phillips said that the Union could not force the clubs to play the formation, but the Christchurch Club could, he thought, agree to the trial. It appeared to him that New Zealand would have to fall in line or be left out of overseas tours. The system should be given a trial. New Zealand had received fair treatment in the pa6t from the English Union, as of 23 recommendations of theirs, 15 had been adopted. Mr P. Harvey said that he New Zealand would have to adopt the 3-2-3 formation, or be left behind. It - would be in the interests of the. game if the trial was given.» Objections Voiced. To play for two Saturdays wßuld be unsatisfactory; said Mr !D. M. Mcßae, and the beginning of the season was the worst time to commence such a trial. If acceptance was forced on players, he thought it should be done under protest. Mr A. I. Cottrell agreed with Mr Mcßae. He said that New Zealand was the only country which had played the 2-3-2 formation, and other countries knew nothing else but their 3-2-3 formation. A good New Zealand scrum, he considered, would beat any 3-2-3 scrum. There had never been any objection before, and it came down to the fact that New Zealand wing-forwards were too good for opposing teams. The wing-forward was a useful man to both forwards and backs. It would take seasons to make the change, and it would mean a Vast alteration in New Zealand football. It would not Ije a good thing for New Zealand to change. Mr Mcßae moved that the club's delegates be instructed to vote against the recommendation at the annual meeting of delegates to the Canterbury Rugby Union. The motion was seconded by Mr Cottrell. An amendment, moved by Mr Harvey, that the system be given a trial for two playing Saturdays, at the same time a protest being made against the . introduction of the proposed formation. was lost. The motion was carried. ASSOCIATION. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The Management Committee of the Canterbury 'Football Association met on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs G. Dickinson (in the chair 1 , A. W. Sellers, A. Robertson, C. E. Keys, J. Cautheray, G. Shouler, J. F. O'Brien,.J. Kennedy, \V. Morley, S. L. Yates, and T. 11. Rutter. Messrs J. A. Kobb, P. L. Davics, and R. English were appointed trustees, Mr J. E. Foote was appointed secretary, ii> place of Mr H." McKeowen, who resigned. Mr O'Brien moved that the Management Committee take over control of the fifth and sixth. grade football. For the past three reasons the committee had very s little information about ike boys' division, he said. Ihe boys had seemed to get out of control, bo far as he could gather, there had been about two men only running the division. In nig opinion, eince the primary schools were taken oyer by the Primary Schools' Sports Association, tho division had gone back. He would like to see the private schools football also taken over." Mr Yates, who said that he had served for 10 years on the schools' committee,

denied Mr football was going - : WBB •'Tho most football developm rectly after he lew«r- -*SBBk Shouler. "It seems to inj he should be left with the laaßjdjßgJH the men who looked tfterjtffl'.tflyijjgjj at Hr Sellers and Mr all that was required was oajngMH between the Boys' Division agement Committee. 1 ~ The motion was ' -■» The Till* Club urate having' difficulty in fnrmipg •to'KjHffl season. It was, luwewsr» players, and .should. "know whether or not it would Be the competition. 11 " '-nVrarTll Permission was granted to play the Northern Clnt'a tt»: in match for the Buist Shield »t Easter Saturday. . sThe following pointed:—Match and grounds,: JM** lcrs, Shonler, 'and the MpnwesJaJiffljiss Referees' Association (to classification, Messrs > Morleyy F. Wade; senior seleettaa, son, O'Brien, and - Messrs Robertson and fflunuyi"rH ment, Messrs Dickinson tad S<w*gHJ9 Messrs Sellers, "Wade, 0"BrteB, Mr O'Brien was appointed . It was decided to close competitions on March 31stIt was decided to reduce ttw'gfijßß admission to English Park, artWMMB pence for all parts of the giwat^gg