FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 3

FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION

MEETING OF DELEGATES Mr. E. O. Hales presided at the annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Football Union last night, about thirty delegates being present. The annual report (already published) and tho bal-ance-sheet were adopted. In speaking to tlie motion for the adoption of the report, the chairman said that the union hacl been very fortunate in arranging its finances to tide over the difficulty of the period following the outbreak of the war. It was a matter for congratulation that so many footballers had answered t-lio country's call in tho great national crisis. _ Ho was safe m saying that fully 75 per cent, of those available to fio had enlisted, and gone to tho front with tl)o Expeditionary Forces. Many of the players were unable to join tho Expeditionary Force, as they were required for home defencc at tho forts, but most of them were willing and still anxious to go. Referring) to Athletic Park, the chairman stated that a satisfactory lease of tho ground had been arranged, and it would be available for football for the next twenty-ono years. Tho rent was high, but as a set-off against this increased expenditure, the union had obtained a substantial remission ill rates. As a result of negotiations with the New Zealand Union, arrangements had been made to case the Wellington Union's financial burden, wnl tho terms agreed upon would eniblo all liabilities to bo met. without difficulty.

Mr. D. D. Weir referred to tho sportsmanlike spirit which had prompted tho Athletic Football Club to agreo ■;o its senior team being bracketed with the Wellington Club in the senior championship when it would have been able to place a much stronger team in tho field for a final. He thought, in fairness to Mr. G. Howe, the manager, of the northern, it should bo mentioned 6hat although the tour had been so successful, the cost of it was the lowest on record. Intimation was received that the St. John's Young Men's Bible Class intended to enter a team for the fourthclass competition. Oil the motion of Mr. W. Perry, it was decided: "That the Management Committee be and is hereby authorised to tako the necessary steps to vest the Athletic Park in trustees for the benefit of Rugby Union Football, subject to such trusts as tho Management 'Committee shall think lit; and also to execute or procure tho said trustees to execute a mortgage or mortgages over the Park to secure the moneys advanced or to be advanced in connection with the acquisition of the lease of and the undertaking of any improvements upon tho Park.

It was decided to promote a benefit match at the start of the season for the New Zealand AVounded Soldiers' Fund.'

Resolutions were carried expressing appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the union by two retiring officers: Messrs. E. 0. Hales (chairman of tho Management Committee) and W. Perry (hon. treasurer).

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as under President, Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P.; vice-presidents, Messrs. E. 0. Hales, J. T. King, G. F. C. Campbell, and J. P. Firth; management committee) Messrs. A. Griffiths, W. Donovan, P. J. Ryan, A. C. Kitto, D. D. Weir, G. Howe, G. Luoni, A. 15. Wilson, and li. Buck; Wednesday representative on the management committee, Mr. W. F. Hornig; delegates to the New Zealand Rugby 'Onion, Messrs. E. 0. Hales, G. Howe, E. A. Little, J. H. Lynskey, and A. C. Kitto; lion, treasurer, Mr. E. A. Little; auditor. Mr. 0. G. Kember; vice-presi-dent to New Zealand Union, Mr. G. F. C. Campbell.

Leaving for the south by the Maori ou Thursday, the following team will represent the Y.M.C.A. club:—V. Sinclair, L. Myers, V. Halley ,J. Nicholson, F. Swine.y, R. Williamson, H. W. Grimes, C. Worth, C. Orr, T. Daubney, N. Barker. On Saturday a match will be played against the Boys'. Gordon Hall, and on Easter Monday the full day will be spent at Burnham, a match being played against that institution. Considerable interest is being displayed in the visit, this being the third occasion on which these teams 'have met and each have ono match to their credit.