DOMINION RUGBY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1745, 9 May 1913, Page 6

DOMINION RUGBY.

N.Z.' UNION MEETS. MUST "GO SLOW" IN FINANCE. PROGRESS OF GAME. COUNTRY TRIPS DROPPED. The annual meeting of tho New Zealand Rugby Union was hold yesterday. Tlio president (Mr. G. H. Dixon) was in the chair, and the following delegates' wero present:—Auckland—Mr. G. H. Dixon, Dr. M'Evedy, Captain Da,wson. South Auckland—Messrs. 11, J. Field, J. 11. Laughton. Poverty Bay—Messrs. D. Cowan, AV. 11. Hales, W. Spencer. Bay of Plenty—AV. T. Parata, A. R. AVilsoii, D. D. Weir. Hawke's Boy—Messrs. R. T. Bailey, F. Laws, E. P. Smyrk. Bush Districts—Mr. F. Britland. Taranaki— Messrs. M. .T. Crombie, ,T. M'Leod. AVnnganui—Messrs. A. Laurenson, G. I[. Pownall, T. Nixon. Mannwatu—Messrs. R. Jacobs. I?. Manning. Horowhenua— Mr. A. E. Booth. AVellington—Messrs. E. 0. Hales, CI. Howe, J. T. King, ,T. Lynskey, K. Little. Nelson—Messrs. N. A. A r ercoe, C. 11. M'lvn.v. Marlborough— Mr. J. F. O'Sulliran. Buller—Messrs. V. R. Meredith, R. Sproule. West CoastMessrs. J. B. Hefl'erman, W. Perry. Canterbury—Messrs. G. 11. Mason, F. T. Evans, F. AA'allbnrton. South Canterbury —Messrs. 11. Amos, W. Drake, E. AVvlie. Olngo—Messrs. J. R. Burt, A. Dey, R. M. Isaacs, P. S. Iv. Macassey, W. J. Wilson. Southland—Messrs-. A. J. Geddis, T. W. AVoods, C. 0. Wilson. Vice-presidents-Messrs. A. E. Devore (Auckland), F. D. Felling (Bush Districts), G. Sprigeins (AVanganui), F. T. Bcllringer (Taranaki), D. K, Logan (Wairarapa), G. F, C. Campbell (Wellington). On the motion of Mr. G. H. Mason the delegates by resolution expressed sympathy with Mr. N. Galbraith (who liad jnst undergone an operation for appendicitis) in his illness. Chairman's Address. The president moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (already published) and endorsed the committee's statement that the game had made rapid progress. In England, South Africa, in America, and on tlio Continent ofEurope tlio game had gained greatly in popularity. Ho regarded as being of paramount importance, the spirit in which the game was played, and he believed the players were now actuated by a fine sporting spirit. He had been fortunate enough to see many interprovincial matches last year, and ho had seen good football, and seen also somo very promising young players—enough at any rato to convince him that when the next New Zealand team came to be' chosen it would be a side which would compare favourably with some of the great sides of tho past. It was a matter for congratulation that their long standing dispute jnrith New South AVales had been settled, and this season, after an interval of somo years, a New South AVales team would visit New Zealand. Finance—Caution Needed. The balance-sheet showed an apparent loss for tlie year of £119-1, but .£Bl7 of this was really due to the American Universities' tour which dated back for two years. This reduced the actual loss considerably, and other items which were non-recurring, such as the country teams' tour, reduced actual working loss-oil the season'to about Ji-18. But there was need for caution in administering tho finances. In 190G tho credit balance of the union was .£12,027, and tho crcdit now was ,£10,024, a difference of J32000. It needed no skill in arithmetic to discoyer that if the union went on at this rate, they would bo soon in tlio same unhappy position as they were some years ago. In a "body such as the Rugby Union, sound finance did not entail tho building up of reserve funds, but merely tho conserving of funds in hand. They should at least live within their income. Probably tho loss on the American Universities' tour would be recouped when a Now Zealand team visited the Pacific coast of America. Ho had been strongly in favour of such a tour, as being, in liis opinion, preferable to a longer tour involving greater sacrifices on tho players and their employers. A tour to America would also have a good effect in fostering the Rugby game there. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey seconded tlio motion. Were Funds Advantageously Invested? Mr. G. AV. AVoods said that he thought the union, had not done tho best possible in .tho investment of tho funds. Lending money to public bodies at call at a low rate was not sound finance, when the rate earned could be made much higher by lending the funds for fixed terms.' He thought the country teams' tour, which had cost .£278, shoui({ be abolished, and a greater amount spent in making grants to foster football in tho schools. He thought also that tlio executive should have been more active in their endeavour to get authority to remove the disqualifications on certain players. Mr. E. AVylio (treasurer) Toplied that the Management Committee had been tied for the last fow years by tho delegates in the matter of investing funds. The committee had been instructed by the delegates to lend money to unions nt 2.| per cent., and to lend tho balance on sliorttorm deposits to local bodies.

Dr. P. I\ M'Evedy said the executive had been directed to make application to the English Rugby Union for authority to reinstate players. They had 110 power to demand authority, but they had made the application. That was all the executive could do. Mr. E. M. Isaacs said the reproach came very badly from the Southland Union, which had applied for funds at a cheap rate of interest last year. It the funds were kept in a less liquid state, as was proposed, some of the needy unions would have to go short when they required funds.

One Profitless Item. Mr. P. T. Evans thought the Incoming committee should consider well -whether the country teams' tours should "be perpetuated. In order best to foster football in the outlying districts the best nwthod would bo to send good teams from the centres out to the country, but if this could not b9 done the money need not bo frittered away fl9 it had been last year. He regretted that tho president had made no mention in his speech of the proposed Imperial Rugby Council. The Proposed Imperial Council. Tho president sa.id tho committee had received a letter on the last-mentioned subject from tho New .SonHi Wales Union, but'it had not been before the NewZealand TJnion Committee. The ' letter statad that the New South Wales Council had written to the manager of the South African team concerning the proposal to establish an Imperial Laws Committee in order to secure greater uniformity in Hie laws of tho gamo. If the Souith Africans wore in accord with it, tho New South Wales Union would again approach tho New Zealand Union. Application wns also being ma-do for separate representation for Australia on the proposed Laws Sub-committee. The president added that he thought tho New Zealand Union should havo separate representation on the committee. Should Boys be Pampered? Mr. Smyrke (Uawko's Bay) urged that the New Zealand Union should do more by way of grants to foster school football. A brief discussion followed on the subject, but not a single speaker supported the proposition. They nil thought eitlw that school football should bo the concern of local unions, or that boys should be left to do a little more for themselves. The report was adopted. Election of Officers. The following officers were elcctcd Patron, his Excellency tho Earl of Liverpool; president, Mr. G. H. Mason (Canterbury): vice-presidonts, Messrs. A. E. Itevore (Auckland), T. Clnrkin (South Auckland), W. B. Miller (Poverty Bay), 10. Kusabs (Boy of Plenty), T. Lean (ITawko's Bay), F. D. Pelling (Bush Districts), F. 'I. Bellringer (Taranaki), G. Spriggins (Wanganui), - A. }(. Gibbons (M.mawatu), 11. Easter (Horowhonu.a), D. K. Logan (Wairarapa), G. F. C. Campbell (Wellington), P.. W. Styles (Nebcin) T)r. .T. F. Bennett (Msirlborouch), ,). ('oil yin (Bullor), J. S, Vilo (West Coast). 1".

T. ■ Evans (Canterbury), A. Sliirtclilfe (south Canterbury), 11. Harris (Otago), H. 'J'rossider (Southland); honorary treasurer, Mr. Edgar AVylio; management committee, Messrs. G. 11. Dixon, K. M. Isaacs, N. Galbraith, _F. G. Wallburton, A. Laurenson, C. G. AVilson, J. 11. A. Laughton; appeal council on the laws of the game. Messrs. W. G. Garrard, G. H. Mason, and F. T. Evans (location at Christcliurch); appeal committee, Messrs. G. C. Fache, E. O. nales, J. 11. Lynskey, ( V. R. Meredith, and E. Wyliej auditor- Mr. O. G. Kembcr; representative on English Union, Mr. C'. AVray l'alliser. I n tor-1 s I and Match. It was decided after brief discussion that the North Island v. South Island representative match be played in Christchurch. A proposal that tho match bo heid in Groyuionth was defeated on tho voices. A further proposal that tho match be played in AVellington was opposed by the Wellington delegates, on tho ground that their finances wero in such n precarious condition that they simply could not afford to lose a playing Saturday. A proposal in favour of New Plymouth was also defeated. School Football Grant. When the question of making a grant for school football camo up tho chairman pointed out that of the voto of <£150 last year, .£l3O had been spent. _ It was proposed that .£l5O be voted again. An amendment that tho amount bo reduced to JJIOO was lost, but a further amendment that tho voto be .£2OO was carried. Control Maori Teams' Profits? Sir. AV. Perry (AVellington) asked, whether tho profits, if any, of tho tour of the Native team to Australia would be tlie properly of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr. E. AA'ylie (treasurer) said that the New Zealand Union reserved the right to veto any expenditure of such profits as might result from the tour. Mr. AV. T. Parata (Bay of Plenty) said that he was the organiser of the tour, and that he was acting independently of his union. He thought it very unfair that the Now Zealand Union, who were not asked to incur any responsibility for expenses, should insist upon keeping control of tho profits. Tho Bay of Plenty and South Auckland Unions had had a very hard fight against the Northern Union game, and in order to keep the amateur game going the officials of the union had provided hundreds of pounds out of their own pockets. . They could not go oil making this sacrifice for ever. Ho hoped the expenditure of the funds should bo left with tho Bay of Plenty Union. Mr. AA T ylio said that Mr. Parata need not bo alarmed too eomi as to what tho New .Zealand Union would do. They would not expect to have the balance of profit paid over, but they must, in order to ensure that tho team was financed and .controlled on a proper amateur basis, reserve the right to veto any iteni9 of expenditure which migh(f bo suggested by tho controllers. Mr. Perry said that ho was glad to, learn that proper precautions had been taken to sec that the tour was t.o be strictly an amateur one. The Poverty Bay Rugby Union were granted a loan of X3OO wherewith to,erect a training shed for players in clubs directly controlled by tho union. It was unanimously resolved that the tour of North Island and South Island country representative teams be not un_dertaken this season. Reinstatement. Mr. E. D. Smyrk (Hawke's Bny) brought op tho question of tlio reinstatement of youths who had played the Northern Union game. He maintained that mere boys who had played the game in ignorance, and who had not been professionals, should not be debarred permanently from playing the Rugby game. It was pointed out that tho question had been put to the English R.U. as to the granting of authority to tho N.Z.R.U, to reinstate flayers, ana a reply had been received which it was deemed inadvisable to publish at present. It was agreed, however, to allow tho dolegatcs to peruse the letter received. A voto of thanks was by acclamation accorded to tho retiring officers.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. THE WELLINGTON TEAM'S TOUR. Tho following fixtures for representative matches for tlio AVellington team were approved:— July s—Against Mr. W. T. Parata's Nativo team, at AVellington. July 19—Against Auckland, at Auckland, for tho Ranfurly Shield. August 23—Against Taranaki, at Wellington. August 30—Against Auckland, at Wellington. September 13-Aga.inst Canterbury, at Christchurch. September 13—Against AA'anganui, at Wellington. . September 17—Against Otago, at DuneSeptember 20—Against Southland, at Invercargill.