FOOTBALL MEETINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1081, 21 March 1911, Page 2

FOOTBALL MEETINGS.

THE RUGBY GAME. THE REFEREES' MEETING. INTERESTING STATEM ENI'S. The annual meeting of the Wellington Referees' Association was held iu the Y.M.C.A. Rooms last evening, Mr. 1). M'Kenzie presiding over a gathering of some Jill members. Ju moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (a precis of which has been published) the cnairman commented 011 the references in the report to the appointment of referees to matches, 'io His-mind the report expressed-the feeling of the association wlieii it said that members were not at all satislied with the methods adopted by . the Appointment Hoard and the appointments made from Saturday to Saturday. They might not get all they desired in the direction of alterations,'but they would endeavour to get as much as possible during the coming season "if they could find delegates to go fir enough. During the past season they had been asked to instituto lectures for players, on the laws of the game. These were held on Saturdays, but only four or fivo boys attended. He was satisfied that players did not wish to learn anything about the laws of the game. His own impression was Hint players did not know anything of the laws of the game. Their main object, was to "beat" the referee. In years gone by the referees had decided to visit .the various gymnasiums and lecture to players. His experience of this had been that (he questions asked had all been as to whether certain rulings given by the particular referee nil the previous Saturday had been correct, and the referee got .a bad. time of it. They liafl hoard .a good deal of lato about' the amateur and professional in the game. His opinion was that there were some real' amateurs in Rugby, but lie contended that the referee was the purest amateur to be found. He did not even receive medals for services rendered. (Laughter.) Mr. Spencer: "Ts it' absolutely necessary for members to liav a subscription?" The chairman: "No. The rules say ■that "members are expected to donate, etc.'" The adoption of the report and balancesheet was agreed to. The following new. memlers were elected :—Messrs. Allan, Cameron, A. Kenu, and C. R. Ingram. Officers were elected as under:— Chairman, Mr. D. M'Kenzie (re-elected); vice-chairman, Mr. 11. Card; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. Siovors (reelected) ; Classification and Examination Committee, Messrs. F. Laws, R. Fonlyce, niul .1. Condor; Revision Committee, Messrs. L. Sievers, 11. Card, and D. M'Kenzie; representatives on Appointment Hoard, Messrs. A. Neilson, F. Laws, and \V. Spencer; vice-president. New Zealand Referees' Association. Mr. n. Card; lion, auditor. Mr. ,T. F. O'Siillivnh. Mr. D. M'Kenzie was appointed to act as the association's (legate at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Referees' Association, which is to be held in Wellington on April M and 15. The delegate to the annual meeting of tlio Referees' Association was instructed to ask that the' case law and rulings as published in the New Zealand Referees' Hand-book be .simplified. Mr. Laws moved that the association's delegate be instructed to move that the next annual meeting of the New Zealand Association be held at Nelson, and, failing that, that he support holding the meeting at any centre other than "Wellington. This was agreed to. ST. JAMES CLUB ANNUAL. The annual meeting of St. James Football Club was held in the Young Men's Class ltoom last evening, .the president, Mr. F. Kitto, in the. choir. There was on attendance of .over 50. iriembers. The annual .-report "and ' balance-sheet (previously published in The Dominion), were read and adopted. Twenty-seven new members were elected. The following officers were appointed for the current year:—Patron, Rev. \V. Shircr; president,. ilr«'-SV Kitto, vice-presidents, Dr. Cameron, 'Dr. Pigeon, and Messrs: E. G.' Dagger, J. J. Elliott, A. Edwards, A. Campbell, E. A. AVrisbt, M.P.. \V. Rovre, J. Crewes, C. F. Puller, R. Fletcher, W. 11. Pollock, W. J. Connor, P. M'Enroe, and J. G. Swindalc-. Club captain, F: -"Wright; secretary, L. Cozens; treasurer, H. Ur,quhart; general committee,. A. Donaldson, H. Roberts, jun., A. C. Kitto, F. Crdwes, J. Moffitt; delegates to the Wellington Eugbr Union, B. Gallagher, F. Alpe, and L. "W. Cozens; auditors, F. Crewes and H. Roberts, jun.; coach, B. Gallagher. It was decided to commcnoo "gym." practice on Friday evening next. Mr. IT." Roberts, sen., was elected a life member of tlio club in token of bis past, services in -its interests. Votes of thanks to the "retiring officers, and' to those ladies and gentlemen who had mode donations to tlio club, concluded the business.

OLD BOYS' CLUB. The Wellington College Old Boys' Football Club held its annual meeting in the Y.M.C.A. Assembly Hall Inst evening. Mr. \Y. E. Bethune presided over an attendance of about thirty members. A summary of the annual report and balance-sheet has been already published. Moving their adoption, the chairman, in a brief speech, stressed the importance of systematic training. Neglect of this essential preparation Had led to the club being described in newspaper reports during the past and previous seasons, as "uncertain.'' Members should endeavour, by persistent training, to lift this reproach. The club lnul good lenders, and if the rank and iile tried to be worhty of them an occasional success would no longer be recorded as "a surprise." More and more was being heard of professionalism. Tho speaker was quite sure that the Old Boys' Club would do all it; could, always, to keep amateur football on top. There were, Jio thought, two things that .must be studied by the club, if it desired that amateur football should remain popular. It must play a fair and clean game, and keep out all dirty tactics and rough play, and it must keep the game attractive. Tlio speaker was confident that after all the training Old Boys had had at'"the school," thcro was no necessity to enlarge upon tho desirability of playing, a fair, clean fool ball. In regard to making the game attractive, the speaker thought—with all respect to Mr. Averj—Hint if the wingforward were abolished the gauio would he made at once much inoro attractive. As things now stood, one heard it remarked that there were too many scrums, that every timo the noor half got tho ball he was smothered, and so forth. The removal of tho wing-forward would certainly lead to a more open game.Seconding the motion, Mr. Denton said he would like to hear what was tho eauso responsible for the want of training, on which stress- had been laid. He would himself be pleased to take a hand in getting up a fund to pay a trainer if that, was what was required. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted. The. following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. .1. P. Firth; vice-presidents. Mr. M. C. Barnett and Dr. Young; club captain, Mr. W. Alexander; Committee of Management, Messrs. H. H. Dawson, L. W. Gilbert, C. E. T. Woods, S. S. Rntt, and E. Xorris; delegates to Wellington Rugby Union, Messrs. S. S. Brown. A. E. Wilson, ami W'. Alexander; lion, secretary, Mr. A. E. Wilson'; lion, treasurer, Mr. W. H. Simmons; lion, auditor, Mr. W. H. Morrah; Classification Committee, Messrs. S. S. Brown, J. L. Palethorpe, and A. E. Wilson. In view of the fact that Mr. 11. E. Averv, who was captain of (he first fifteen Inst year, is leaving Wellington for Canterbury (where he will take up tho duties of an area officer under the new defence scheme), Mr. S. S. Brown moved that the club place on record its appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Avery, and wish him every success'in his future career. Speaking lo his motion, Mr. Brown remarked that Mr. Avery had had a distinguished career on the football field. He had walked up from tho lowest grade to the highest', and the speaker did not doubt Mr. Avery would make a name for himself in his new career. Mr. Cook, seconding the motion, said he had known Mr. Avery probably longer than most (lid Boys (hen present, both on and oft' the football field. The club would suffer a. great loss bv his departure.. hut his country would gain.. Briefly replyinz. Mr. Avery expressed regret at the fact that his new duties .would preclude his further active par- ■

tic'pation in football. He would always follow with interest the doings of tho Old Boys' Football Club. Messrs. 11. E. Avery and W. Alexander wore appointed life-members of (he club. It; was agreed (hat it be a recommendation to the incoming committee lo consider the advisability of raising funds for tho purpose of acquiring n permanent gymnasium for Iho club. Saturday next was .appointed as the day upon which to comineuco training. A grant of ,l'.i .'is. lo the Wellington College ground fund was authorised. Twelve new members, ten of them active and two honorary, were admitted to. the club. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and to the chairman for presiding terminated the meeting. THE PETONE CLUB. The annual general meeting of Iho Pe ; tone Football Club was held last oven-, ijig". Mr. A. Coles occupied the chair, and (here was a good attendance. Messrs. T. M. AVilford, 51. P., and A. F. Harding, and the Mayor (Mr. .1. \\\ M'Ewan) were also present. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. In connection with the latter, the interesting fact was disclosed that tho club's assets over liabilities now amount to .K124 Gs. lGd. Tho following officers were elected for the ensuing year-.—President, Mr. A. Coles (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. P. Carson, R. Stancil, E. Barnes, Fletcher, T. M. Wilford, Drs. Ross and Harding, 11. J. Palmer, J. W. Martin, R. Mothes, D. E. M'Ewen, .1. T. King, .). W. M'Ewan, R. W. Short, G. Dr.vies, J. Lynskey, and H. Ryder; club captain, Mr. W. Fraser; vico-club captain. Mr. ,T. Price; lion, secretary, Mr. G. Miller; assistant, secretary, Mr. .1. Wilson; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. Daley; hon. auditors, Messrs. J. Lynskey and H. Wynyard; management committee, Messrs. Hardham, Selwood. and .Tas, Ryan; delegates to W.R.F.U., Messrs. Hardham, Lynskey. and Fraser. In accordance with the club's new rules. Mr. J. Lynske.v was elected selector of the first twenty players eligible to play in the senior team. Mr. \V. Fraser was elected selector for (lie junior team. Third cla?s coach, Mr. ,1. Prico; fourth class coach, Mr. T. Cross; fifth class coach, Mr. W. Donovan. Six new members were elccted. ■ It was decided to begin practice next Monday. On the motion of Mr. M. Ryan, it was resolved to consider the advisability of holding a bazaar to wipe off a debt on the gymnasium.