NEW ZEALAND RUGBY PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1949, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Press Association)

Election Of Oicers

: (Per

WELLINGTON, May 5. Mr D. S. Max (Nelson) today took office as iiresident of the New.Zealand Rugby Union, having been nominatod unopposed. There was one change on , the executive, Mr A. A. Baker (Auckland) iwho was eleeted last year, being re•placed by Mr L. A, H. Clode (Southdand). Messrs A. MeDonald and T. H. Park er, managers of the All Biack team, were re-elected. Mr R. W. S. Botting (Otago) was eleeted from among three nominees as the South Island viee-president, though it is only by custom that one is chosen from eacli island. Mr J. A. Finlayson (North Auckland) is the senior vieepresident, and therefore virtually the president-elect. With Mr Botting eleeted a viee-presi-dent, no eleetion was neees'sary for the South Island members of the couneil. There were kve unsuecessful candidates for the North Island seats on the couneil. Mr Prendeville's Parewell Mr Max, on talcing the ehair as president, presented Mr J. Prendeville with a past-president's badge. In making a farewell speeeh, Mr Prendeville referred to the big change whieh liad taken place in the past year as the result of whieh the New Zealand Union was now. affiliated to the International Iioard instead of the Rugby Union, England. He wondered whether that change would be a suceess. It certainly. left a big responsibility on the shoulders of the Domihion's administrators in the fu'ture. M^'Prendeville said' that it was a wreneh/to leave the administration of the game, but both he and Mr Dean appreeiated that the older men had to give way in tirne to the younger brigade. "Mr .Max, returning thanks for his eleetion, said that it was 50 years Hiice Nelson had last provided the presideut of the New Zealand Union in the person of Mr W. S. Littlejohn, principal of Nelson College. He referred to the impressive evidenee of the strengtli of Rugby whieh he had seen in the lloine countries on his recent trip to attcnd the meeting of the International lioard, and the exteut to wrhieh the game united even people with such poiitical diffcrences as Northern and Southern Ireland. Mr R. J. Sffiith (Bush) was unani-niously-ejeet.ed a life-member. Both Mr Belcher -ahd Mr -Dean, in" moving and secujiding Mr Smith's eleetion, referred lo hi'-s'tffiany yehrs of service to the game both. nationally and in his own dlstrict. Mr Prendeville said that

. I though he .had been attending annual meetings since 1919.. Mr Smith's record was a year or two longer than his own. Other speakers also expressed appxeeiation of Mr Smith's serviees and his friendly persona'lity. The motion was carried with prolonged applause. Mr Smith returned thanks for what he described as the high honour epnferred upon him. The New Officers The election oi officers resulted: — Patron, the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Preyberg, V.C.). President: Mr. D, S. Max (Neison,). Vice-presidents: Messrs R. W. ,S. Botting (Otago), and J. A. Finlayson (North Auckland). , » , . , Couneil, South- Island: W. A. Crad-' doek (Buller), V. L. Jensen (Canterbury), H. S. Strang (Southland). Couneil, North Island: Messrs D. S.B. Heather (Waikato), N. A. McKenzie (Hawke's Bay), and F. E. Sutherland (Auckland). Executive: Messrs A. St. C. Belcher (Waikato), L. V. Carmine (Wanganui), L. A. II. Clode (Southland), J. D. Iving (Wellington), T. C. Morrison (South Canterbury), A. MeDonald (Hawke's Bay), J. H. Parker (Canterbury). Appeal Couneil: Messrs H. Frost, J. Conlan, P. Shaw (re-elected). Boundary Disputes That the boundary, records of the New Zealand Union should be brought up-to-date wap one of the recommendalions made to the Couneil. Speaking to the motion, Mr G. A. Brown (Manawatu) Said Manawatu had been involved in boundary disputes,' and that if the r6eords had been kept up-to-date, many differences" of opinion and a certain amount of unpleashntness would have been ayoided." Mr D. S. B. Heather (Waikato), urged that the use of aluminiuin sprlgs should be allowed. They were freeiy used by a rival code in his union and proved safer than leather sprigs. Mr F. E. Sutherland (Auckland) said that New Zealand had approached the International Board with a view to having aluminiuin sprigs permitted but had been rejected. The captain of the touring Australian team had used them and one had become punctured. It was then delinitely more dangerous than .the leather sprig and that had eounted with the International Board. rffiie meeting was adjourned to eiiable delegates to inspect the aluminiuin sprigs whicli Mr Heather brought down with him. ' ' i