RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 448, 5 March 1909, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON UNION COMMITTEE,

REVIEW OF THE PAST SEASON. A meeting of tho Management Committee of tho Wellington Rugby Union was held last evening, Mr. S. S. Brown presiding. There wore also present: Messrs. F; Alpe, Perry, J. Sweeney, J. F. O'Sullivan, and W. G. Talbot (secretary). ANNUAL BALANCE-SHEET. Tho balance-sheet to be presented to the annual meeting was submitted and approved. Tho total expenditure was set out at £1594 10s. Gd., and tho income at £1187 12s. 10d., leaving a loss on the year's working of £406 17s. Bd. Donations and subscriptions amounted to £40 13s. 6d., and expenses of referees, travelling expenses, etc., to £19 4s. 4d,, while the expenditure on grounds was £678 Is. Id., including £102 forjabour and material, £225 for rents, and £350 for Miramar Park. Representative matches cost £466, as follows: —Northern tour £156, entertaining £142, outfitting, caps, etc., £36, gymnasium and training £22, juniors £10, brake hire £60, referees £13 65., general £13 13s. Advertising cost £105, and the expenses of the Taranaki team £76 13s. 6d. The income from representative and cup matches was £1049 16s. 7d., made up of £860 gate money at Wellington, Petone, and Hutt, from Miramar £163, and the benefit cup match £26. Ground fees contributed £45, club subscriptions £49, and interest £32 15s.

. Tho Insurance Fund showed a loss of £36 15s. 6d. for the year. The expenditure was £130 ss. 6d., accident claims accounting for £92, and medical fees £37 15s. On the income side, clubs' subscriptions amounted to £73 10s. | there also being a donation of £20 from the union. The liabilities of the accident fund wore £8 los. 3d.," there being no assets. The general balance-sheet showed a credit remaining at date of £717 2s. Bd. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report to be presented at the annual meeting of. the union congratulates delegates on the continued prosperity of the game in tho district. The Competitions for the various championships were followed with keen interost, and some fine games were witnessed in all grades. The final result was that. Melrose won tho senior and third-class cups, and Petone won the junior, fourth, and fifth-class championships. The Petone club was selected as the challenger for tho Benefit Cup, but tbey failed to wrest the tnpay frviA the senior champions. The loss on the working of the Accident Insurance Fund for the year was £30 15s. 6d., and in place of tho previous year's credit of £28 OsT 3d. the balance-sheet now showed a debt of £8 15s. 3d. In view of this loss the committoe consider that it is clear that the fund must be put on 'a better financial basis, and the committee was giving 1 notice of motion for tho alteration of the rules to allow the question to bo fully discussed at the annual meeting. Tho Star Club were tho winners of the Wednesday competition. . The bearing and conduct of all members of the two touring teams was excellent, the managers' reports being such that the committee felt pleased in placing them on record. ' Dealing with ■ the Athletic Park negotiations, it was mentioned that early in June an agreement was arrived at, whereby the union acquired tho lease and assets of tho company as a going concern. To enable the union to complete the arrangement, a sum of £4000 was borrowed from the New Zealand Union, rcpayablo over the remaining period of tho lease. -This meant tho shouldering of a

heavy liability each year, but, relying on the support tendered in the past, the committee had every confidence that the purchase would prove a satisfactory one to the union. The park had been vested ill threo trustees, Messrs; 6. F. C. Campbell, George H. Dixon, and Dr. Newman, who would hold and administer tho funds in trust for the Wellington Union. Many followers of the game who were shareholders-ill the company, transferred their holdings to the union, and tho thanks of the union were duo to the following for their generosity:—Messrs. C. P. Skerrett, J. H. Williams, A. F. Wiren, A.'T. Bate,' B. M, Nelson, G. Reid, Marcus Marks, Guy Johnston,. Henry Rose, Henry Hall, M. J. Brookes, N." Galbraith, W. H. Hales, and Sir Robert Stout. The thanks of the union were especially duo to Mr. G. F. C. Campbell and Dr. Newman, the gentlemen chiefly instrumental in bringing the negotiations <0 a satisfactory conclusion. A tribute was also paid to the work done by the referees, whoso efforts throughout the season wero oxoellcnt, and deserving of the thanks of tho union. Tho secretary made a statement in reference to grounds for the coming season, and stated that tho prospect was very satisfactory.

ACCIDENT FUND. A lengthy discussion took place in regard to tho Accident Insurance Fund, during which it was mad© clear that the rules of the Medical Association would not allow of a union doctor being secured on the same terms as last year. It was suggested that if the doctor's fees were going to be raised during the coming season, the contributions from players should be inoreased by 16s. for senior players, 12s. 6d. for junior players, 10s. for third-class, 7s. 6d. for fourth-class, ss. for fifthnclass, and 15s. for Wednesday players. This would bring tho total f.ubscriptions for teams as follow Senior, £2 55.; junior, £2 2s. 6d.; .third, £1 lis.; fourth, £1 Bs. Gd.; fifth, 15s. 6d.: Wednesday clubs, £1 16s. j