RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2149, 15 May 1914, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALAND UNION ' MEETING OF DELEGATES MATTERS OF ADMINISTRATION The annual mcothift of tho .New Z«iliuui' Hugljy i'oolbaii Union viv.s held yesterday. Mr. 0". H. Mn?on. president .of the union, occupied the chair. Following were the delegates present; Auckland": Jle.ws. C, H. Item mill 31. J. Hhcahan; Smith Auckland: Messrs. 15. it. i Bush, and ■!. 11. A. Laughtoii. i'ov-crl.v Bay. Messrs. E. Wvlie, J!. Xaismitli. awl Bulge. Bay of I'lDntv: Messrs. 1). Weir ami \V. Varnta. Bush .Districts: Mr. W. ' White Sco'tt. TaranaUi: Jfcssrs. J. M'Leod and M. J. Crouibie. Waugauiii: Messrs. l'owna'l and A. Luureiijon. Manawatu: Messrs. Jacobs .fsud On-tlcy. llorowha'nitn: Mv. V\\ Jlonaglian; Wairarapa: Messrs. C. Jlaid and A. 13. Booth. ■Wellington: Messrs.'K. 0. Hales, K'Little. G. Howe, J. H. Ij.Tiiskey. and i, T. Kins. Nelson: Messrs. N. GaibraiUi, Vc-rcee, and Alters. Jlarlbcrnugh: Mr. J. F. O'Snliivnh. Buller": Messrs. 1). J. Williams, H. F. Cutter. Wv-A Const: Mr. \V. Perry. Canterbury: Slessrs. G. H. Mawis, C. Buchanan. , South Canterbury: Messrs. H. Amos. W. Orafe?, H. H. Fraser, | Otago: , Messrs." Hiirsi.-;, Wilson. H, M. Isaacs, Torrance. Southland: Messrs. A. Drake. Southland: Mfsrs. A. Derbie, G. W. AVoods, and 0. G. Wilson. Hawke's Bay: The J'«v. I'alhtr Mahoncy, Messrs. K. F. Bailey, and A. B. NeihoJi. A . Good Yeer to Come. The president, moving Uib adoption of the annual report, said the year had been nn ordiuarv one in certain directions, and in some others an extraordinary one, The committee had had the pleasure of settling all differences with the Australian liiigby authorities,' smtf of reiastituting annual matches with Australia. He was sure the visit of the Commonwealth team last year- had dona pnotl to the game here and in Australialie was pleased, as lie was sure all- lovers of Rngby must lie pleased, to note the improvement in the game p!nyed by the Australian visitors, -sliowini; plainly that whatever difficulties they bad had'"in Australia', they, had K°t ever them. Hew Zealand .was' to send a team to Australia this year, and ho hoped the very best team available would be sent. One result of the Californian tour, he thought,. would bo to improve, the .game'in California. Certainly, it had knocked out of the heads of "experts", in the game in tliat i State a lot of w-roujr-headed ideas. One I of tlios? . ideas was that the Californian I teams had developed a system of defence that was absolutely impregnable. jJut, apart from Rugby altogether, the tour was a very fine advertisement for Xesv Zealand. It was atefllutcly astounding to him .to find the profound ignorance oxifetiiiß as to where the team came S'ronij what they did Vlicn thsy were at lionie, and so oil. They were called South Sea Islanders/ Australians, anything l>\it New Zealan'dei's. Also tho Americans hud been very much surprised thai, a- team could play such a game as the New Zealiiftders played without being massaged by ''an army of trainers. There had been a good deal' of comment about the balance-sheet of th-3 lour, and the committee had bsen called to task for not showing asi adequate balance-sheet. But it was absard to demand a balance-sheet when tk» Kvv Zealand "Union had no control over tlw finances of that tour. ■Thftse.'-wbo clamoured'for a bal-uste-shrr-t must have Ijeeti in absolute •■ ignorance-, of. the. -'roeditions under which the team was s'mii. • •■'. ' About Firtanctt, Mr. N. Galbruith seconded the motion. Fie mado .i special appeal to unions to bs more, prompt in their financial dealing with tho New Zealand Uiikm, and especially m the payment of their .subscriptions. On* tho year's working the union > Bad gouo to leaward 'to the extent of JSiS, ami his opinion w.ns that this was Imd business. To prevent this). going on, tilt treasurer would later suimiit to lire delegates p. resolution. Tlmrs was a profit on tho Australian tour lust vest of .£396, but this and more would bo required to pay tho expanses frf tl'to tour ct our '.turn to Australia this seasun. Tlie with, the Australian Union was, however, a more equitable orii- than 'formerly, ana tho tour ot our tesut. might not result in j Heavy loss. ■ I Mr. W.Drake (South Canterbury) said it seemed extraovdmarr time the Jvdrth and South Jsiaiu} watch, which produced a rcveniie of J2330.' slwriW result i» a loss of JC24 to the New Ze.nlii.nd Union. Mr. E. YVyho (tfeasurer) put forward the balnuce-slicec of that asatcb, and offered to explaiii ike items nf it. Oro reason for tue loss wai. the heavy cost of the ground at Lancastar Fark (Clirislchiu-ch). Usually ground authorities would accept a tiiuiiV sum for a match, but thc.'Lancaster far!: Hoard of Control y.'ould nixct come to terms, alwavs insisting upasi .a pewcnUvge. Th? treasurer also explained that tile New Zealand Union had had. 'o lend to ilie New South Wftks Union -seine itf(W to finance the tour "of the' Australians to New Zealand. This was scoured by'ljeihg made a first charge on the receipts.from the test nintches 6{ tho New.Zraland tour in -Australia. Th« New Zealand Union also had a joint and several gnamiitee . from the New South Wales -and Queensland Unions that the money would to repaid during this season; Tlic Itvan , was, of course, a little mere than ordinsi , . ily the New Zealand Union wonkJ liav? agreed to advance, but the Maims-emenl; Committee thought they -would be ifoing good'to football by iieiping the ■ ••Aiiitralians. This opinion was endorsed generally by delegates. : . * . Selection of Teams. I .'There was a good deal of disciiaiion ', about ths selection of the New Zealand . team for California. Wellington delfßntCß I complained that the Management Com* mittce treated the rejection of New 'ilea-. ' land teams in a most haptia&afd fashion, i flepressutatives of 'sinral imions nisi i complained that under:the present method 5 of selection.of teams for the. inter-island . match, the smaller unions did not. get jus- ! tice, \but, as one of the delegates from a small union 'pointed out, nouu of thorn . could put forward a sug2<?sti-on for a betUf ' nipthod that was still practicable. ' ' .Mr. ■ E. Wylie said it t» him ' that the difficulty arose through tho cx- ■ istenc? of 100 many an«H If ; these unions would amalgamate to form, big unions, which, could ploy watches with metropolitan unions with hope of success, good players now in- country districts and small town* would hive aiv ' equal chance of selection with' city i players. ; The report ami balance-sheet were C adopted. >■ Election of Officers, The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:~Patron, the - Earl of Liverpool; president, Mr. ,F. Art nicl (Auckland); vitsc-presid-eiits, Me«srs. - A. E. Devox (Auckland), W. TJ, Miller - Bay)), AV. i. Palmer (Bush Dis- , tricte), T. Clarlan (South AuckSaad), W. . T. Parah (Bay of X'lenty), I:', ,Ti Bellringer (Taranaki), G. Spriggens (Wan*anui), J. F. MaiuiiiiK (.Xfanawata), J. Bose 3 (Horowhenua), D. K. Losan (Wnirnrapa), - G.'-1i , .-- C. Campbell (.Wellington), E. AV. 5 'Styles (Nelson), J. Lord (MarHratongh), J. - Colvin (Buller), J. F. Wilson {West Const), a G. H. "Mason (Canterbury), A, Slih-lcHil' c (South Canterbury), 11. Harris (Otaso), I. r Jeiiliins (Southland), and Frank j/oean \ (Hawko's. liay); Jfanasfeniont Committee, Messrs. W. J'erry, N. Galbi-aitb. J. IT. A. Laughlon, (.). l)ixtm, ]', -M. Isaac?, O. J'.aui'ensun, I. ■Hyanis; Appeal Council. Messrs."A*. T{. S. Meredith. M. J.T'rombie, ;\i»\ Alox: CamV'Mi; amlitoc. Mr. 0. (). Keniber; represi'iitatiy* on iho Eng--lisli .Hugby Union. Mr. C. AVwy Palliser. The ApiK'al Couupil was locaUil at \V«I- - lington for the ypar. ii ? The Inter-Wand Malt*. , Tt was decided that the inter-island I inalpli'l:? played lit Wellington. Am.Mid- '' UK-ills that it be playr-d at Ounrdin ami '• Cireymoiith were dcftialeil. The lirciijc iif " tlu-'.dnle for the match was left to 'the I I Management CoimniHci , . To Encourage.the Boys. d Air. CI. \V. Woods, (ft)iithlanil) \ wn -?d d (hat the prniit for school football be <E250 for the year. This motion found mine MippnH, and I, also s-ome opposition. The , treasurer (Mr. a E. Wyliei said tlvat'whiie he ■ harl .■■; verv •e great interest in s.cb<»l football, hi r- thought the 'preient au *np«rlun? Ijjub to {ttcrease tne grant. Tie .nnioa was

faced with nil expenditure of ,£I!10.3 for the Aiirtralisn tour, am l . they should wis it and h'C; how nnich of that would Ik> recouped -from Hie proceeds of (he matches. Ho moved as an amendment tint the nmoiini be JC2OO. the same amount lint was voted last veal". The amendment wa-i carried on the voices. Appointment of Referees. •V deputation from tho.Xew.Zealand Referees' •Assodation wailed npoa the meet* ' J jir. W. M'Kensiio said tho deputation had been instructed by tiio New Zealand itWoreV.*' Association to a«k the delegates to instruct the affiliated unions to insert a clause in their rules, to provide that the appointment of referees should be 1.-it solely in charge of the local Referees' Association. This work; he said, was wholly the business,of the Referees' Asssititifion and .he would ask that, the; Uuijbv cciUrol should allow the Referees' to do their own business. He itiged also that the associations''were do•lBS the game u real service,' and lie called" to "mind the troublesome. experience that players and uni'ot-is had before associations were in existence, Jlr. ]j. Sievprs said that the best possible results were achieved in those districts where tilts unions haul given a trial to the- scheme ef allowing tlie referees to make the appointments' to the matches to bo played. Ho was anxious, and the New Zealand. Referees' Association was anxious to have eliminated all suggestion of bias o« the part'of tho unions certain referres, or all depelHlcncc of referees upon' the goodwill of 'players. In reply to a question he said that it was not the wish of the deputation to'interfere ot sill with the appointment of referees for representative matches. L - It was pointed out that the meeting could not frame a by-law such as _ was proposed, because no notice had -ncea given of it. After tho delegates had withdrawn,. The president said that in his opinion it was a moot point whether it would bo wiso for tl» Xnr Zealand Union to issue instructions to the local unions on a question of purely local government. It might be a very dangerous precedent ! fh© ri'teri:-!-; wet** a- very useful body, but at the same time there could only be one local governing body of Rngby and that must be the local union. The experience of his union also was that just as good service could be got from tho referees when they -were governed by tl'is union, as when they were "on top." Mr. E. 0. Hales (Wellington) moved: "That tho New Zenlnlid Referees' Association lx> infonne<l that we l-egrct that wo oto unable to carry out. their proposal withont special notice of motion being given to , alter the by-laws of the J'ow Zealand' Union." Mr. E. M. Isaacs .moved an amendment that it bo si recommendation to the Jlanagiivaent Committee to formulate for next nmiuni meeting a notice of inotion to provide that tlie appointment-of referees be left to tire local 'Referees' - Association. This, tie though!-:, was the system which was found to work most smoothly,.and .live result, of having appointment boards was to causa referees to loss interest m the game. Reorcsentatires of Pavwty 'Bay and 'fa. ratniki in which districts "the -appointment of referees was left to the .local j Referees' Association, said that this system of appointment worked very smoothly, and that there was.never now the difficulty of getting referees for matches that there had been before it was introduced. Tho amendment was lost. Mr.' .J. .T. Lynskcy moved a further amendment: "That this meeting do not interfere with tho control by local unions of lqw.l affairs,'" Jit) pointed oat that although tho referees deserted consideration, the playm ought to have consideration firM)'.«Rd'lhc Sew Zealand Union represented tho players, whereas the referees did not. . . 1 ■ ; The amendment wss carried. Other Bus if!o3s. Mr. G. W. Woods (Southland) moved in accordance with notice given that a sub-rnlo b« added to Rule'JsD to provide (hat delegates entitled to vote at HlO annual, meeting' of the New Zealand Ku.gby Union must bo members of, the unions they represent, o.r members oi the Management Couunilt.ee of tho New Zealand Union. The motion met with a good deal of opposition and very little support. U was lost 011 the voices. Certain matters concerning the. Northern league game and professionalism generally were discussed in committee. Application was made j.,v tho WairrVfPa TJinon delegates on klui'f of th# rnkelo! sub-union, now under tho B«sh Bistricts Union, that it should be admitted as' a separate union, to bo called the Puketoi Rug-bv Jciotl>aU Union, with liiHidfiurii-tei's at Potignroa. The motion was defeated. A similar' motion-to' establish t]js> IVaia-pu.Svib-Unbn in tho Poverty Bay distric; 1 was o.L>'> defeats:'. The only differoncß * in tie questions was ..that, the Bnsh Dis- : tricfe Union opposed the Piiketoi' appii- . cation,, whereas Use Poverty Bay Union 1 smwortcd the Wai-aVm application. ; Tfce'matter of 'wheCher a'country teams . tour should""!.*? arranged this via? was left to the Management - Committee. ! Annual Loss, £203, 1 Mr. E. ffyKc moved a resolution, re- ' «nrdii)L' thi?' payment of interest on loans > from tlio New Zealand, Union to affill- '• ated, unions. . He moved that the rate ' of •• interest payable on all future ■ loans 1 to unions, and on all arrears'of .inter- '• est and instalment: of principle,, on esi.st- ■ in.g loans, nnt paid by the due date, ' should be G per cent., subject, to res' diiction to -1- per cent, if paid by August 31 in every year. Tho rates of interest •J at which the was at. present lent * was frtmi 2J per cent, to i\ per cent.. l - but the rcsblntion would not affect any " t'Skling.loans made for a definite .period. As a reason far the iqotion he pointed ' put that 1.11 the eight years .since (hers had been a decrease .of .€1873 in'the cnpitnl fund of tho union, an annual loss , of Jim. ■ ' ■ j Mr.' \V. Perry ;eoonded tho motion, s which was agreed to without opposition I, An anplicatioii from the Hawse's Bay * Rugby union for a loan of ..SIC© was referred to tho Management. Committee. i The meeting conclndctl at 11.45 pm.