ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2011, 19 March 1914, Page 8

ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING OF W.F.A. The twenty-foarth annual -meeting oi tho Wellington Football Association was hold last evening. Jlr. J. B. Patau prodded over.an attendances of sixty ttete gates. In moving tlie adoption of the reporl and balance-sheet, tho chairman stateu that it was gratifying to cbsei'rc the improvement in the standard of play during the past few years. The unrobor of playors was nl=o increasing, in 19!)3 the W.l'.A. had 25 clubs, and about 300 players. Now there were 92 teams and over 1000 players. (Applause.) This increase»during the past ten ywrrs had been brought about by eajcoiiraging | boys' teams. In the same period the play in senior matches had improved vastly, and thp speaker referred to the tine exhibition given in tho CauterburyWellington match last season. Kusjby enthusiasts, who had witnessed the match, hud •commented favourably oh I it. "Keep on giving the public matches \ like that," continued the chairman, j "and they will support its." Tho speaker then referred to the Third Division clubs, and stated that play in this class was always weak. The suggestion ] had been made that the incetniujj; com-' mitteo should endeavour to rectify this in the future. Regarding tho distribution of the Brown . Shield match proceeds ho advocated tho rule being altered so that the money obtained iniptit , bo disbursed on a more eqttitnblo basis. The agreement between tho W.I 1 .'A.- and tho Grounds Company had been signed, and it'appeared to him to bo a good one. Tho'ground was in fair eomiition, but they wanted money. In conr:lusiou tho chairman paid a tribute to the work dnne by Mr. l' , . J. Courtenay in eoniwe- + ;,>ii wifli Ilin iipw "round.

Mr. F. J- Courteiiay seconded tlic motion. He said that there was one fact which players and supporteis nirwt not lose sight of. That was that the V.F.A. had 525 shares iii thn new ground, and he considered that it was

:t big stake to hold. It was the duty of players to do ail they could to liftip ihs ground along, and ■ lie advocated luat an additional 'JSO shares should be taken up by players and supporters before KasteV. 'i'tie ground wculd bp tested shortly, and. if it were found to be in a lit ■condition matches would be i>}.aved there tiiis season.

Tho ' report and balance-sheet wereadopted. The election of officers resulted as follows;—l'atroii, Mr. C. H. Izard: president, Mr, C. P. Skerrett, K.C.; life vice-presidents, Messrs. l>. l'ye* ■Suiitii, 11. Mayer, i< , . J. Courtaiay, W. MM (newly elected), and A. E. Gibbos; 'vice-presidant, Messrs. H. N. M'T/sod, 11. JJ. D&vcnport, J. J. Roberts, 11. JJ'Keoweu, T. Shields, A, J. Abbott, J. F. Atkms. J., Lewis, 1L Godbcr, E. H. Hiley, llajoi- C. D. Macintosh, Dr. (J. Simpson, and Dr, 11. 0. White; lion.. secretary, Ivtr. A. AVilliams; hon. tiflus'urcr, Mr. AV. Dnucau; hon. auditors, Messrs. 11. D. Victory, aim A. U. flaruett; management committee, Mess'-r* AV. Mathiesou, H. Yoemaii, 'J , . Thomnson, A. Varney. A. E. Wells, T. J. Chapman, and J. Black; delegates to N.Z.F.A., Messrs. J. B. Patou and J. M'Crorie; trustees. Messrs. F. J. Courtpiiav and H. Mayer: vice-prcsi-Usnts to iV.Z-.F.A.; Messrs. V. J. Couftenay and J. J. Roberts. . ■■ Considerable, discussion, ensued over the question of members; of one controlling bettv being eligible i'or election to the Management Committee. On accouiU of the recent revision of the liy'lavrs. the chairman ruUd that any person Wild was acting on tuiy other controlling body was not eligible ! or election to tho" Management Committee. Previous to this ruling being given, Messrs, J. Lewis, J. B, Paten, and V. O'Coimr-H had been nominated for eke- j lion. Tiny subsequently withdrew their ' names, ttie iirst-meutionctl being a : member of the N.Z.F.A., Mr. Patoii a member of iho N.Z.ii.A., and Mr. CConuell a member of tho AV..E..A. The age [imits for players in the : \ various junior division teams are to bo tlift same as !ast year. Mr. J. Lewis moved a motion (o the effect that the appoiutmont of referees be confined absolutely to the control of tile management Cominitteo. THo chairman pointed out that rule IS in the revised additions of the ruks co\ered praetically the same grounds. _ The mover tliarefore n'itiidrew .his luotron. . Mr. AA'. Auld stated tiiat Mr. A. Bolton, ot Courteniy IMaco, had offered to donate eleven silver watcl.es for a school "knock out ,, conipotitioit. Messrs. Williams and Duncan wore instructed to wait on Mr. Beltou for tho -purpose of nntkuia; the necessary arrangements. ■ Mr," A Baniett proposed s vote of thanks to Messrs. It. Y. AValls, J. Ml'atoii, B. L, Salmon, C. H. Dick, and W. J. li. Reynolds, members of ike Management Committee, who did not seek re-tfetkm.