News Briefs From Rugby Union's Meeting

Chronicle (Levin), 30 March 1949, Page 4

News Briefs From Rugby Union's Meeting

At last night's annual meeting of the Horowhenua RUgby ' XJhibn, bianket permission was given to all clubs .in the district to play friendly. matches until the opening' of the' season's actlvities, provided the games. were uhder the jurisdiction of clubs affiliated to the union. This action resulted from several applipations club delegates for permission to play friendly games. The first challenge for the Bebbington Shield was.v received at the meeting. Tne secretary, Mr. J> E; Furarton, read a letter froni the Dannevirke Sub-Union. ^jeminding Horowhenua of its promise. to play a game for this shield early in the season. and making a formal-chal-lenge. » The matter was left to- the management committee. ¥ ¥ '¥-•*- The meeting nominated Mr. A J " Gillespie, the past president of the union, as a member' of the North Island section of the counciLof the New Zealand Rugby Union. A similar "homination sent forward last year arrived too late for consideration. The new president, MrR. L. Robinson, was nominated for thev office of 'president of the New Zealand union, but he declined, remarking that at the moment it was too ambitious' a project. * ' ¥ ¥ ' The excellent attendance at the meeting was remarked upon by the chairman, Mr. A. Gillespie when welcoming those present. More than 60 delegates of clubs, schools and the Horowhenua Referees' Associa- . tion wer'e present, and Mr. Gillespie commented that it augured well for rugby footbafi in the district to see such an enthusiastic attend-' ance. , ¥ ■¥ ¥ The year's balance sheet showed a deficit of more than £80, which was attributed by the president in his report to the disappointing gate returns, not only for the representative matches but also for club championship games. What was considered to be a disproportionately large laundry foill was commented on by several members. The expenditure of £67 13s 6d had caused the management committee 'no little concern, remarked the chairman. However, it had been consifierably reduced towards the end of the season and there \was a hope that it would be lower •this year, he added. I * ¥ ¥ ¥ I Mejnbers stood in silence as a tribute to the memory of four sup1port'ers o'f rugby football in the' district whose deaths had occurred since the last meeting, Messrs. J. W- | Rroc.ter, N. Kingi, H. Hutchins and R. Wehipeihana." " Fine tributes" to " the services all these men ha4 \ rendered during their lifetime were I paid by many of those present. ¥ ¥ ¥ !v.,It is possible that the first game of the season will be played on A'pril 23, the first Saturday after Easter. Some • members were in favour of a decision on this point being made by the annual meet'ing, but it was pointed out that the .management bommittee would have to investigate the position first. At the same time, the matter of age limits for the various grades would jhave to be considered and team nominations accepted.