FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2739, 6 April 1916, Page 3

FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of tho Wellington Rugby . Union was held Tll the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last evening, Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., presiding. There was a good attendance of members.

During the discussion on tho annual report and balance-sheet (already pubfished) file I'oneko CluTf's delegates complained that Pctone had b>:ev awarded first place in the sixth-ctass championship, instead of 'Poneke. Mr. AVoods said that this club had taken every precaution to ascertain the age of the player who was alleged to be over age (for which reason the Poneke Club was disqualified). They had no desire to infringe the rules (which provided that any protest should comb from a club, and not an individual as m the present case). Mr. D. Weir, chairman, of the union, replied that the action taken by the union was not in response to any representations made in a private letter. Such a letter had been received, but had been ruled out, and the action taken up by the union was because a member had taken exception to the fact that the youth in question was above tho specified age. No assistance had boen received from the Poneke Club in establishing the real age of tliey lad. Finally a certificate had been obtained from the Registrar-General, vhich showed that the lad was eleven days oyer age. Other Poneke delegates expressed the opinion that the secretary of the club bad taken all reasonable precautions to ascertain the boy's age, and it was not right that the other fourteen players should be penalised. Mr. W. Hornig (Oriental) said that some years ago tne fifth-class team of his elub had been debarred from winning the championship for the same reason as m this case —because one player was over ago. _ The report ana balance-sheet were adopted.

Tho election of officers resulted as follows President, Dr. A. K. Newman; vice-presidents. Messrs, J. T. .King, E. 0. Hales, J. P. .Firth; G. F. C. Campbell; Management Committee, Messrs. D. Weir, W. H. Donovan, G. Howe, H. Buck, A. C. .Kitto, D. Madden, J. N. Millard, W. Perry, W. Rountree; treasurer, Mr. W. F. Hornig; auditor, Mr. Oscar lvember; delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union, Messrs. E; A. Little, G. Howie, J. H. Lynsgey. Ilule 2 was altered so as to strike out the provisions applicable to Wednesday competitions. The rule affecting members playing out of their class, ,which provided for a twelve months' suspension from the 1 date of the offence, was altered so as to give the Management. Committee some discretion in such cases as it had found the rule impracticable. This was agreed to. This alteration, Mr. Weir expjained, meant that it gave the committee the chance to "make the punishment fit tho crime." Other alterations of the rules affecting play on Wednesday (now that AYedliesday competitions have been abandoned) wore made. • On the motion of Mr. Alps', a motion was passed (by those present standing) recording the union's appreciation of the valour and self-sacrifice of those members who had fallen at the front, and sympathy-with their -datives. A motion was passed placing on record tho excelelnt services rendered to tho union by the lato treasurer, Mr. A. E. Little. ATHLETIC CI,TIR'S ANNUAL MEETING. Tho thirty-eighth anifual general meeting of the Athletic Foutball Club was held at the club's gymnasium.on Tuesday. The club captain, Mr. W. S. Ridler, presided, and there was an attendance of about 40 members. The annual roport stated that the club's senior team' again won the championship, . making the fifth successive win in this grade. The senior seven-a-side tourney also resulted in a victory for the club- A senior and a junior team competed in the Manawatu Rugby Union's annual soven-a-side tournament,, and both were successful. The club is the present holder of the Thompson and Payne Cup and the Rogers Cup- for these' victories. A few representative matches were played during the past year, and the following members of the club participated J. L.,Blaqkmore,. R. Barry, J. Cunninghame, D. W. Madden, A. M'Carlie, R. Paton, R. Robinson, W.Ryan, and A. Wilson. The best thanks of the club are again extended to Messrs. W._ J. Heman and W. J, Spencor for their continued interest in the training of the senior team. '

The response from the members of the club to the call to arms has continued to be most pleasing. .The committee regrets' to record that three late members of the, club have died on the field of honour, viz.—J. T. Gosling, P. Kerr, and A. Diehl. The deepest sympathy of their fellow members is extended to their relatives. ' Tli© adoption of the report and balance-sheet was agreed to. Officers were elected as follow President, Mr. G. P. C. 1 Campbell; vicepresidents, Messrs.. A. Pritchard, J. P. Murphy, E. .0. Hales, W. H. Hales, R. M. Isaacs, I. Hyams, J. A. Thomson, W. S. Ridlor, P. C. Atkinson,, A. Bognuda, H. W. Kelly, W. Fraser, G. Rob. ertson, E. Davy, D. G. A. Cooper, G. A. Troup, A. B. Charters, J. H. Pagni,and W. H. Bedell; club captain, Mr. W. S. Ridler; Hon. secretary, Mr. D. W. Madden; hon. treasurer, Mr. W. G. Mills; delegates to W.R.F.U., Messrs; D. W. Madden, E. P. Carman, and B. Warwick; hon. auditors, Messrs. J. A. Thomson and 8.. Warwick; Management Committee, Messrs. J: Cunninghame, R. Paton. J. W. Murphy, W. Ryan, B. Warwick, J. Robinson,'and P. Mills.