ASSOCIATION NOTES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2138, 2 May 1914, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES

ffil CENTKE-HiLO ■ NEWS NOTES OF THE WEEK, Dark .and Mysterious. At two successive meetings recently the treasurer of tho W.F.A. has shown! some hostility to the parent body (tho N.Z.F.A.) His reasons for taking up this attitudo arc best know'n to himself, because, as far as tho writer knows, ho has never publicly stated his' gnevauces. Mr. Duncan was a member of tho New Zealand Council at onetime. Ho stated at the meoting last Wednesday that he know what tho matter was with 'tho N.Z.F.A., and also said that ho thought a chango was needed. Further, ho is reported to havo said that: "It is about time that the council's liouso was cleaned." Now, if Mr. Duncan will como out into tho open, and say what, in his opinion, is wrong with the council, people ' will know exactly whore ho stands. The treasurer of the W.F.A. will do no good by indulging in innuendoes. Storm In a Tea-cup. A misunderstanding was cleared up at the last meeting of the Management Committee. On tho previous Wednesday evening Mr. Barnett, of tho Brooklyn Club, was requested to attend, arid give an explanation of his conduct in signing registration forms for two clubs. Ho failed to tiiru up, and consequently ho was suspended. The following Saturday, however, he played for Brooklyn against Diamonds, and this action has been freely commented on during tho week. Subsequently it was learned that tho letters which had been addressed to Barnett had not reached him, because he had loft his former place of business, and were returned to tho secretary of the W.F.A. Under (ho circumstances the committee could not lake any act inn in that particular matter. Regarding the question of signing registration Tonus for two clubs, Burnett and G. Iferzog attended this week's meeting, and explained their actions to the satisfaction of the Management Committee. Alteration of Rules. Tho International Hoard, which will liold its annual meeting in June, intends to discuss several proposed alterations to tho present Rules of the Game. In Law 7 it is proposed to add four yards to the prisent distance a taaii should stand from the ball when it

is kicked off, making the whole distance ten yards; in Law 9 to add the. word "striking" as one of the oifcnccs for which a free-kick and a penalty-kick may be awarded (in the past, striking, though considered 0110 or tho worst of offences, was unpunishable by tho referee, and tilts has always been a catch question in the referees' examination). In regard to the foregoing, tho following comments from tho "Athletic News" wilt be of interest: — "There seems 110 reason why, if a player kicking an opponent is liable to a penalty, it should not bo tho same if ho hits him. There has been much doubt in referee circles as to whether pushing an opponent docs not really include striking him, the act being pretty much tho same. If this proposal goes through it will still further remove tho penalty-kick law from that it should only be imposed if a goal is saved by unfair means.

"It is also prbposed that the referee shall merely drop tho ball down to restart play after a temporary stoppage. This appears to be a very sensible idea, as it would put an end to the high bouncing that is generally prevaleiit, and that makes these re-starts moro or less of a farce.

"An important proposal is the additicn of a few words to Law 13, which lays it down that a referee's decisions shall bo final. What happened at tho last Final Tie was tliat tho I' I .A. reviewed a decision of the referee, and took action on it over his head. Now, it is the intention to make this a clear and legalised act. The law is to read that the finality of decisions applies 'so far as tho result of the game is concerned.' "

Some Stray Notes. The Westland Football Association is nothing if not enthusiastic. The secretary of that bright, little association lias written to the New Zealand Council, asking for full particulars re the Brown Shield competition. Inter alia, he states that soccer in Westland is booming. The competitors for tho Brown Shield so far this' season are Hawke's Bay, Westland, and Wanganui. Mr. L. Bradstock, of the Stoke Orpbauage, Nelson, was in Wellington last week, and said that the prospects of soccer for this season are very bright. Old enthusiasts will remember that 13 years ago Mr. Bradstock wa3 an Auckland representative. That he lias not forgotten his old-time prowess will be seen when it is stated that recently, in a match ■ played oil the Nelson grounds, he secured four goals, and that against Home men 1 A suspended official of ono of the clubs was seen on the new soccer grounds on a recent Saturday during tho_ progress of a game. - Three of tho old Corinthian players who were suspended last year ,are eligible for play this season, their suspensions having expired on September 3, 1913. It is interesting to note the strong hold which soccer is obtaining on certain Government institutions in New Zealand. For instance, the Porirua Mental Hospital, Christchurch Mental Hospital, -, the Burnhaln Industrial School, and the Stoke Orphanage arc real live nurseries for tho soccer.game, i Present indications point to Brooklyn I United withdrawing from the Senior Division championship. This club had a promising career before it, and as it commenced well last season it was confidently expected that the men'froni tho hill suburb would do something better this season. Let us hope that ways and means -rfill be found for keeping tjie club together.