RUGBY CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 3

RUGBY CONTROL

WELLINGTON UNION'S ANNUAL MEKTINC. I he annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union -was held on Tlrarsy* sli'- D. D. Weir presided, ihe report and the balance-flieet, extracts from which have been published, were adopted. I lie Railway llaltilion Club was elected to the union.

Addressing the meeting, the chairman said that last year Rugby in Wellington had ] ia d an oxcellent season. hero had been a minimum of friction, tho football had been good, and the public had been satisfied. Olio of the most notable things of the jear was the effort to save' Athletic P-.irk. Tho park was ]iot yet secure. A couple of thousand pounds had been collected, but at least another thousand was needed. The committee hoped to get enough inonoy to make the park safe for all time. During tho year the union had come into touch with the hockey body, and he thought that the relationship might be continued with mutual benefit. A new system of touring -had been established. Players had paid a portion of the cost of tho tours, and that system might bo perpetuated: tho players who got the fun should contribute towards the cost. Relations with the .'Referees' Association had improved, but nioro leferees were needed. The outlook for Rugby .never was brighter. The gi-me was. tlie national game, and there was no fear for its future. Oulv one new club had been mentioned so far, but others would come along. Wellington College, for instance, .would be putting in an extra team, and the Marist Brothers' Old Boys were coming in. Mr. W. G. Talbot was resigning tho secretaryship after eleven years' excellent service. Tho following officers were elected President. Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P.; vice-presidents. Dr. P. F. M'Evedv, Messr" E. O. Hales, G. F. C. Campbell, and J. P. Firtii; vice-president of the No'-/ Zealand Union, Mr. G'. F. C. Campbell; treasurer, Mr. W. F. Horllig; management committee, Messrs. A. Griffiths, W. H. Donovan, A. Curtayne, J. A. Millard, A. C. Kitto, D. .0 Weir, G. Howe, W. Wl Cook, J. Robison; delegates to New Zealand Union, Messrs. E. 0. Hales, A. C* Kitto, J. Lynsky, AV. Hornig. An amendment to the rules was proposed by" Mr. W. White (Poneke), with tho object .of doing away with the necessity of disqualifying e'uhs for playing ineligible men. The idea, was that the man should he open lo punishment, but that the club should not be disqualified for a breach of which it was innocent. Tho amendment was heavily defeated.

The age limit last year was 20 years,

Mr. J. Roberts moved that lor the coming season the limit thould be 22 years. • '

Mr. W. H. Donovan moved that the tirsc should be open, md that the other grades should bo limited to men of 20 years. After consideration had been given to many proposals, it was decided that a senior competition should be open, and that the junior competition also should be open for clubs that liavo a senior team ploying. For ••lubs .that have no senior team in'tho field there is to be a limit of 21 years on the players in the junior team. A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. W. G. Talbot for his services-as secrotary of tho union, The of the Management Committee were thanked for ,their work during last season.' The v meeting condoled with the rflatives'of men fallen in battle.