FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 507, 14 May 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND RUCBY UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of delegates to tho Now Zealaiid Rugby Union was hold in tho Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. Tho chair was occupied, by Mr. G. F. C. Campbell. Tho following delegates were present Auckland, Messrs. G. H. Dixon, M. J. Sheahan; Buller, Messrs. H. Kolly, M. ScanIon; Bush Districts, Mr. E. Darby; Canterbury, Mossrs. W. G. Garrard, E. T. Harper, G. H. Mason, V. Meredith, W. Walton; Hawke's Bay, Mossrs. H. Card, F. Laws, G. Roach, L. Sievers, E. Smyrk; Horewhcnua, Mr. J. G. Stevens; Manawatu, Messrs. H. P. Mullor, F. Pirani; Marlborough, Messrs. A. D. Bayfield, T. Brodio; Nolson, Messrs. J. E. Butler, A. Campbell, A. H. Kitching; Otago, Messrs. T. Brodio, F. H. Campboll, 11. AI. Falconer, H. Harris, R. M. Isaacs; Poverty Bay, Messrs. W. Johnston, G. Lusk; South Canterbury, Messrs. H. Amos, W. Drake, E. Wylie; Southland, Messrs. R. Galbraith. H. Laughton, N. Galbraith, A. Laurenson; Taranaki, Mossrs. W. C. Cargill, A. Humphries, P. Skoglund; Wairarapa, Mr. J. M. Nicholls; Wanganui, Messrs.,L. Bassott, H.. Craig, Gl Spriggens; Wellington, Messrs. -W. Coffey, J: H. Price, I l '. Roberts; J. Sweeney, L, Short; West Coast, G. Clarke, O'Roilly, W. l'crry. , t - Mr, Coffoy, in answer to a question, was informed that all tho delegates present wero financial for tho purposes of tho mooting. The Chairman's Address. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, stated, that, as he was retiring from, office as president after this mooting; ho would like to say a fow words which might bear on the future of tho game, and tho futtiro policy of. the union. There wero two subjects which seemed to him to be of vita) importance to tho New Zealand Union. There ,was firstly tho question of finance. From the balanoe-sheet he notioed that there was a loss lkst year, and another loss was rocoided this year also. It appeared to him, after closely watching things, that, there was a growing tendency to throw greater and greater re .sponsibmty on the parent body. It was for delegates to oonsider whether the union could bear these burdens .if they aro increased. Tho action of affiliated unions was, no doubt, tho outoomo of tho successful result of tho All Black's,.tour of England. Unions must romomber that thoy had been assisted by loans of money at a low rate of interest, so that tho annual, income of the New Zealand Union was not of great proportions, and it was very easy to see how the union could bo over-burdened..' The other question was the Laws of tho Gamo. The union, in his opinion, showed' good sensa in tho action which it had taken in this connection.lf any ono union adopted alterations in the Laws o£ tho Game it would hogin what might lead to an entire change of tho whole of its aspects. It might bo said by some that these alterations were not likely to alter tho general bearing of the gamo, but those who held so wero not looking to tho future. If "they began to tamper with the Laws of the Game, without the co-operation of othor unions, in a very short time each union would be run-, ning oii its own acoount. They only had to look at the Melbourne game; whore tho rules were altered. There players were now unablo' ,tp moot any : other'• part, of tho Empire in friendly contest. Personally, he was anxious to secure certain alterations, but there was a proper and constitutional way of doing it; and that was by getting representation on tho International Board. If we did not get sufficient .support from the International Board at first we must wait until wo did got it., In course of time, continued effort must prevail; (Applause.) ' Mr. Geo.- Lusk seconded tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet.: \ Numerous questions were asked by , one or two delegates. Mr. Coffey was informed that tho legal expenses, £342 55.:6 d., were made up (if £140 odd paid to Mr. Hollings, ot Masterton, and £202.25. to Messrs; Morison M'Loan ' in 'connection'-'with the recent 'larv suits. 1 Of the amount £235 7b. 3d. for •uniforms, £185 Is.^was, paid to Mr. Pallisor in London to fit the British team out, Repairs, etc., made up tho-balanco. / . In answer to another'question a? to whe-' ther. any sum of money was' paid oyer to the manager- of the English team before! tho team left for Australia, the treasurer st:ited : £994 14s. was paid to. Mr. Harnett atj'ono timo and another, and £100 was given beforo the team left for Sydney so as to pay expenses there. ' Shall We secede, from England? Mr. F. H. Campbell did not think we would over get representation on the International Board, and ho favoured a' South AfricanAustralasian Union. If we could not get satisfaction we should start out on our, own account'. ' ' ■" Mr. Garrard thought that, if we failed to ■get representation on tho International Board, we should do something on our own account. Mr. Coffey thought tho visit of the British team was neither a credit to the team themselves nor the country thoy came froni; As to their football they could show nothing to the local teams. In tho matter of finance, ho thought there had been a great deal of un-. necessary extravagance. (Hear, hear.) He did not think there was a possibility of ting representation on the International Board. Wo ought to take action ourselves, as that slow-going body at Home would never mako a move. Ho looked forward to tho formation of a South African and Australasian Federation. Mr. Coffey termed-the grant of £25 to tho New Zealand , Referees' Associa■tion a - scandalous payment, and remarked roundly on the extravagance. >, i A Hotel Bill Produced. Mr. Galbraith, in replying to Mr. Coffey, produced a certain account of hotel expenses which Mr. Coffey challenged should be read. | The treasurer read tho statement, item for item, and general amusement was expressed when Mr. Coffey was constrained to admit that it was not tho bill ho had seen. During his refutation of Mr. Coffey's arguments, Mr. Galbraith. said. that he nad reason to know, from news by the last mail, that the English Union is moving in the direction suggested by Now Zealand as to tho Laws of tho Gamo, and is getting suggestions from Homo clubs as well as colouial bodies. Mr. Pirani Hits Straight Out. Mr. Pirani remarked on what ho termed tho scalo. of extravagance and magnificence which prevailed throughout' tho tour of tho British team, which, tour reminded him of the visit .of tho Duke and Duchess of York. Tho conclusion ho could como to was that tho Management Committee did not; possess a man on it with any business ability./ For instance, tho idea of incurring legal expense's to tho amount of neariy £350 when not a penny need have been' spent would, never, have been dreamod of by a management committee of business ability. The samo thing applied all through tho accounts. Tho speaker referred at some length to tho payment of £5 to a referee in tho British mat-ch at Palmerston, and wished to know if it was not time to stop talking against professionalism, when a payment liko this was allowed for a few hours on-the'field.' The British team . had boon a'lowod 2s. a day, and yet, right through the accounts, there wero items for fruit, etc., for tho players. If over there was an instanco of professionalism from end to end, ho would guarantee it was in connection with the British team. Tho team was a decidedly poor one, as footballers, taking its performances throughout. Mr. Pirani claimed that there was no question but that an alteration of tho Laws of tlio Gamo from end to end was needed, but tho Management Committee had been determined that no alterations should 'bo made.- . Ho thought it was utter nonsense to wait until wo get representation on tho International Board. Even if wo got it, it would bo of no avail, as tho board'only mot about once in tliroo years. British Team Warmly' Defended. Mr. Dixon, replying to tho criticism of tho Management Committee, cxprossod, his indignation at tho manner in which Mr. Pirani had spokon of ;tbo British team.- If this was Mr. Pirani's idea of hospitality, it was not his (tho speaker's). A:voice: "It was. true anyway." Mr. Dixon went oil to say tho team was far from, being a fifth-rate combination, as j Mr. Pirani had said, and in support of this ho could quote tho test match at Wellington, when tho visitors drew with Now Zea-

land. Tho £5 charged up to tho referee at Palmcrsten was brought about by tho . referee boing unablo to catch, a train, and having to hire a motor car. After outlining tho position, in regard to tho Laws of tho Gamo, tho speaker went on to say that ho welcomed criticism in open mooting, although, ho could say ho deprecated what ho might • call criticism by innuendo, as tho incmbors of. tho committee could not enter into news-. - paper controversy, Mr. Dixon gave a general denial to the. suggestions of extnwaganco during tho British tour. . Mi-. R. M. Isaacs spoke in defenco of tho ' Now Zealand Referees 1 . Association, and remarked that tho association' had agreed that it would not apply to tho union for financial assistance this year. Tho adoption of tho report and balancosheet (a precis of which has boon published) . was agreed to. Flnanoe of Brltsh Tour. • A detailed supplementary statement of accounts in conncction with tho British team's, tour showed a balanco of £670 ' 4s. lid. Tho total expenditure on tho tour was £12756 lis. lOd. Tho gross takings at gatea in Now Zealand were £11,036 13s. ld. ( and. in Australia £1652. Programmes yielded £67 10s. Tho expenditure for 17 matches in ■ New Zealand was £4183 14s. 6d. f and tiio ~ New Zoaland half of expenditure m. connec--tion with matches in Australia totalled £741' 14b. lid. The travelling espouses account , totalled £6425' 6s. 7d., tho principal items being transit expenses £3808 2s, 5d., board and lodging £1362'45. Bd., daily allowance- to British team £399 12s. Legal expenses made £342 ss. 6d., uniforms cost £235 7s. 3d., and medical expenses £58 Bs. 6d. Tho entertain-., ment acoount amounted to £735 10s. lid. Insuranco of Players. Tho committee appointed to report on a • scheme of . insurance of players reported thai they consider that tho hasis on which to place the contributions, so as to bccuto n financial solidarity for tho fund and yet not press heavily on any player, was not an easy matter to determine. No definite data is available of the number of cases in tho Dominion which would come within the ,opora-. > tions of the scheme, and any conclusion as to tho average must bo largely gnoss work. Tlie amount charged the individual player, 'especially in'view of the benefits ho v is ' entitled to is very small, but from any analysis of tho balance-shoots of the rnsuranoo funds.' of tho larger.unions it should, supplemented ' with £250 from tho IJow Zealand Union, fully, provide for all claims and obviate any necessity of calling on unions for tho fur-' ther contributions providedlfor. The scheme, • which provides for an annual payment of 33. , 6d. per season per, player, has been, published'before. Mr. Oargill, one of the subcommittee, sifcated . that the schome was simply put forward oa a ground-work for discussion. On tho basis of the-figures available, tlio proposed scheme was practically impossible with a £250 subsidy from tho Now Zoaland Union. Ho com- , mitteo would suggest that tho benefits should perhaps be cut down. ,but that .a 6chomo should bp given a trial, say, for 12 months. Mr. Pirani thought tho hotter idea would bo to promote individual sohemos amongst unions. 'He did not think that tho time had' arrived for the Now Zoaland Union to em- '• bark on such a scheme.'-. . . ' , 'Mr. Lusk thought it would ho impossible for tho smaller unions to afford to pay the ■' lpvy required by the proposed scheme. His' union (Poverty Bay) oould not afford to pay what wonld bo its share, £45. . ; Sir. Mason, thought tho smaller unions should follow in tho steps of the contres and' form schemes of. their own. Messrs.; Harris, Walton, Dixon, Stephens, and Coffey also spoko strongly against . Uho, hew sohome, at tho same time admitting that ,tho sub-committee, had; put its very, best efforts into the scheme. ' . ! Mr. forgill, in replying, said that ho could see plainly' that the scheme was not going to bo accepted. If the wholo scheme was too. V' big, he would suggest that the Now Zoaland 1 Union- might subsidiso insurance' schoinoii under smaller unions. .... • On being:put to tho . meeting,, tho sohomo , was rojooted'.i'i.A rote' of thanks' was passed . to Messrs. A. L. Humphries arid W. C; Car-' ." gill for tho report. Election of Officers. The oloction'of officers rpsull'"fl-n,s 'j Patron, His, Excellency-the GoVcrnbr; i pw>< , '' : ] sident; Mr. : i'V L6gan (l>apicrj ; ' ' dents, Messrs. A. E. Ddvoro (Auckland): J. : Colvin, M.P. (Buller). M. Vanco (Bush), G. H. Mason (Canterbury), Geo..;Fleming. , (Hawke's Bay),. J. S. Fowler (Horowhenua), ■ J. Manning (Manawatii), 11. ..M'Callum: (Marlborough), Dr. Andrew (Nelson). F. EL, Campbell (Otago), W. B.' Miller (Poverty Bay), A. Shirtcliffo (South Canterbury), 11. Galbraith (Southland), F. T. Bellringer (Taranaki), W. C. Buchanan (WairKu), Geo. Spriggens , (Wanganui). G. F. C. Campbell (Wellington), D. M'Kay (West Coast); lion.' timsiiror, Mr. H. Kelly; management committee, Messrs. Goo. Dixon,'J. H. A. Laughton, Geo. Liisk, R. M., Isaacs; W. Perry, V.' It. Meredith, and N. Galbraitlij appeal coun- > oil, Messrs. Angus Campbell, H. Frost; and J. Arneil (to bo located at Auckland); ton. auditor, Mr. Oscar Koinber. ! .i . Referring, to the Deans Memorial Fund; Mr. Dixon considered tho union should sup- > port the Canterbury memorial fund. Tho lato Mr. •• .Deans-'- was esteemed and . loved! by:-, all who knew him, and the memory of such a fino fellow should . be' perpetuated.; . Ho moved that the sum of £50 bo . voted to tho ..fund.Mr. Mason stated : that tho form of tho memorial was to bo a scholarship in tho Boys' High School, something on tho- same ■' lines as tho Rhodes Scholarship. The proposal was agreed to. • Charge Levelled at the /}ll Blacks. Referring to tho question of professional-' ism, Mr. F. H. Campbell thought the com-' mitteo was not awaro of the. feeling at Homo that Now Zealand was deep in professionalism. Certain people at Homo considered that tho All Black team - wore professionals, Ho read an extract from,an 'English papei; stating that momboi's of tho , All Black team received purses of gold,': etc., biiforo _ they. went homo, . These statements should, in his opinion, bo contradicted, as some people wore inclinea to think the hands of tho Now Zca- , land Union wero not top clean, although Iks himself know thoy were. Personally ; ho Was afraid of professionalism, and ho thought thoy,. • should make our position clear at Homo. Mr. Dixon stated that tho ■ charges : were nuito unfounded, and originated with the Scottish' Union. Tlio Now Zealand Union had absolutely nothing to liido. Throughout tho tour of tho AH Blacks ho had niado it his business to receivo a, certified balanoeshoot frota 1 each body thoy' played. Tho union invited any criticism hero, and could answer it, but ho did not thinli wo should > enter, into a newspaper controversy in England. The attitude of tho Scottish Union was beyond his comprehension. Tho Now Zealand Union had absolutely nothing to hide. Mr. Pirani: "It is clear, enough. They : mado a bad bargain." Tho matter thon dropped.' Distribution of Profits. Tho Management Committee recommended tho following allocation of tho profit.shown, in the British team's tour account:—Auckland, £48,55.; Buller, £42: Bush £35; Canterbury, £48 55.; Hawke's Bay, £48 1 65.; Horowhenua, £20: Maimwatu, £35;" Marlborough,. £20; Nelson/ £42; Poverty Bay. £35; South Canterbury, £42; Southland, £35; Taranalti, £46; Wairarapa, £35 j Wanganui, £48 ss.'; Wellington, £48 65.: West Coast, £42. Total, £670'55, ' In view of the Joss of tho Queensland Union on tho British tour, Mr. Dixon proposed that the £100 duo by that, union should bo remitted, and deducted from tho profits on tho tour. ■ ■ ' Mr. Pirani moved an amendment that Mr. Dixon's proposal bo carried into effect, but that Ao £100 come out of tho Now Zealand Union's own funds and not out of the profits , of tho tour, which had already boon oar-, marked for tho local.unions. After a lengthy discussion both tho amend-. ment and the. motion wero rejected. ' Tlio allocation was loft in tho hands of the ManAgemont Committee. ■ , On tlio motion of Mr. Perry, the newlylorincd Sputh Auckland Union was admitted to affiliation.^-' . It was decided to vote a stim of £100 for; the encouragement of football iu tho schools. The meeting concluded at 1 a.nu after sitting for 8i hours.