ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

WORDS ON THE GROWING GAME. [By "Cr,NTur.-HALr."I Like Mel. B, Spurr's Poem. To-day will see the opening of Wellington's 1912 Associatitn _ football season. Present indications point to it being a successful one, but, like the lines found in Mel. 13. Spurr's poem "Tho Game of Life," it is not until the hand's played out can we count up our game. Taken all through last season was successful, and the seasons before that were also successful. So it enn safely be said that, up till the present, Association football in Wellington has had a good run. It rests with the players to make the 1912 senson one. of the most successful in tho aiiuals of the game. Of course, there are the governing bodies to bo considered also. They, too, have plenty of work before them, and the general opinion is that thero are no shirkers on those committees. If there is personal feeling in evidence anywhere, let it pass. Forget it altogether. Let the games be good, linrd tussols if you like, but keep clear of ungoiitlomanly conduct. Let playors remember that tho referee is the man who controls tho game, and let them respect his decisions. Remember he gives up his time for your benefit, and docs his best, and no man can do more. Last season we were fortunate in having no postponements. Every Saturday was fine enough for football, and every game set down for decision was played. Tho exception was the Swifts-Corinthian fixture, which had to bo abandoned owing to a muddlo over Kelburne Park. In conclusion, let us hope that, when our new ground is ready for play next season, we will bo aide to look back on season 1912 and feel quite satisfied with the' result. Hon. Members' Tickets, A new scheme for increasing the revenue of tho Wellington Football Association has been adopted by the management committee, and it is considered a very good one. Some 200 tickets have been printed, and distributed for sale, called hon. members' tickets. Theso tickets cost lis. each, and admit tho holder to all games played under the auspices of tho Wellington Football Association as well ns Brown Shield matches for tho season for which they are issued. By this means it is hoped to swell tho coffers. of the Association. It is well known that the general public get their pleasure for nothing, owing to the fact that there can be no chargo for admission to games played.on tho city reserves unless special permission is granted. From th'is it will be seen that tho players tlieriiselves givo their lime, and money, to the game practically for the benefit of tho spectator. It is' high timo that this spectator helped tho Association just a littlo. and now is- his chance. Next year he will have to pay perhaps Gd. per Saturday to see games played under tha auspices of the Wellington Association, and seeing that he is only asked to give ss. for the whole of a season's games it is little enough, Football Night at the Pictures. On Thursday, June G, West's and the Royal Pictures' have decided to tender the W.'l'.A. n benefit performance. It will be what is described as a "Football Night." It h understood that tho pictures will include local matches ns well as moving pictures of games ployed at Ilonie. In addition, (hero will be many other films of an interesting eharacter. Serving Out the Grounds. At last Wednesday's meoting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association, ths n.uestion of xlajjn Mni nut »t ta Mi»nui

to play games and junior players having the use of town grounds again cropped up. Op. looking at the fixtures for to-day, it will ha seen that Ramblers are to play Hovers at Miramar, and that the second division teams—Thistle and Brooklyn— are to try conclusions on Duppa Street No. 1. Jn explaining tho reason for doin!,' this, Air. 11. T. Godber, of the Grounds Committee, stated that they did iml. see why all the senior matches should be played on town grounds, and therefore they had decided to give the .second division tennis a chnnco to play in town occasionally. It was mentioned that ground No. 12 at Miramar is almost as Rood as any of the grounds on city reserves. Praclicaljy every member of the committee had something to sav on tho matter, and, when the motion: "That this committee approvo of tho allocation of grounds made, by the Grounds Committee" was put, it was carried unanimously. The players havo yet to be heard on the question, however.