N.Z. RUGBY UNION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 216, 31 May 1918, Page 7

N.Z. RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES

CHANGE OK HEADQUARTERS OPPOSED

The twenty-sixth annual meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Rugby Lmon was held at tho Chamber of Commerce last ovoning, Mr. G. H. Spriggens presiding..; In welcoming lh« delegates l</ the meeting, the chairman said that the war had depleted ]j, lguy 0 f Jnanv of j( . s mofi Miming j)layers, and the svmpathv of I m union went out to the parents of tnwe who hud fallen in the, execution of their duty. The cluiirinan, in moving the adoption M tho report and balance-sheet, details fl| «'hich have alreadv appeared in This Dominion, stated that Rugby plavers were deserving of verv high praise for the noble manner in.which they had re. spended to their country's call. He moved that the council tender a vote of sympathy to the relatives of (hose playcrs who had suffered bereavement as'a result of the war. The resolution was carried, the delegates standing. Mr. C. Buchanan (Canterbury) stated tliat the season in his district had been a greater success than had teen anticipated. (Hear, heaV.) Tho school tournament had nlso beon a success. All the members had taken an active interest in !» e Same. "We are not such a lot of bed leds' down there as some of you people think," added the speaker amidst laughter. |

Some discussion arose as to tho position of the union with regard to various mortgages held in connection with grounds in several districts. Jhe president assured the delegates that they need havo no fear on the matter,, as everything in connection therewith was absolutely safe. The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

Transfer of Headquarters. A considerable amount of discussion took place upon the following resolution, moved by the Canterbury Union :- ' That in future the headquarters of tho New Zealand Rugby Union shall not be stationary in Wellington, as at wesent, but shall be located for a period of three years in each of tho four centres in rotation. Tho transference of the- .headquarters from Wellington to some other centre to lake effect this season." In moving the resolution on behalf of tho Canterbury Union, Mr. C. Buchanan said the idea was not that Canterbury should govern the game for tho time being, but that the game should benefit. - The headquarters had been in Wellington too long, and 'his union held that the game would progress by tho council adopting the resolution proposed by his union. The transference of the headquarters from centre to centre would mean the infusion of new blood into tho governing .foody of the union. Ho was not _ saying this in ' any disrespectful spirit regarding the present' Management Committee, for all of them had done .a great deal on behalf of Rugby, and Canterbury thanked them for what tliey had done.

Change in the Laws of the Game Advocated.

Mr. V. J. Ohlson (Auckland) supported the motion. A chango would do no harm to the management of Rugby -football, hel held. His union contended that a transference of headquarters would tend to enliven interest in other centres. Homo of the members of his union held tout a change in the laws of the garao should be made, but there wero those on the executive of tho Now Zealand Union w'ho wero opposed to this. Tho present executive were- inclined io bo conservative, in their outlook with regard, to tho way the English Union looked 'at things. Mr. D. 1). Weir (Bay of Plenty) was pt opinion that no satisfactory idea had been advanced in support of tho resolution. If the unions were not satisfied with the policy of tho executive then they had a remedy-a change in tho personnel. If they wero not in agreement with Ihe views of tho English Rugby Union, then let them cut tho painter. (Voices: No. ) However, he considered that this was not the timo to hold tho pistol at-the heads of the English Union and make all sorts of domands' which they might consider reasonable here. In the speaker's opinion, it would .bo a retrograde stop to adopt the resolution. support.to tho motion was given by Mr C. M'lulosh (West Coast). i } l I: Croml >«e (Taronaki) was opposed to the suggestion on I lie ground 1 hat the whole idea was unworkable. One never heard of a big business concern having a movable head office. Wellington occupying a «entrnl position it was reasonable to snpposo that the executive would be ablo to get the benefit of on interchange of ideas bv. having the head- i quarters of the game there. J ! r -, £R' J ll?ram (Southland) supported the resolution. The Bowling Association had found that a chango of headquarters was a success. (Delegates-

"Change Would Lead to Confusion." Mr. E. Wylie (Poverty Bay) said that .a change of headquarters would only lead to confusion. The experience of other sports bodies had ibcen that H change in the meeting-place of the controlling authorities had been a failure. Mr. G. E. Dixon (Taranaki) said tho mam reason why Wellington had been chosen as the headquarters of the union was its central situation. The speaker objected to other unions taking advantage of 6iich abnormal times as these to try to effect changes of great and vital importance to tho game. Messrs. Buchanan and Ohlsoh protested agvinst Mr. Dixon's statement. Continuing, Mr. Dixon said he did not want to hurt the feelings of the delegates of any union, but'he did think it was a pity that efforts were being mndo at such a time to put through legislation of so far reaching a character. Dr. P. F. M'Evedy (Wellington) considered that the mover of the resolution had adduced no valid reasons in favour of a change being made. He honed that' no movement would bo made in tho direction of seceding from the English Union. If delegates had complaints against the executive, let them elect new members. Mr.. G. H. Pownall (Wanganui) also spoke against the motion. The president said he would regret to see any change made in the location of the headquarters of tho union. The Proposal Lost, After the .mover of tho resolution had made his reply,-in the course of which ho contended that some of tho members had really douo nothing but'develop the discussion into an attack upon Canterbury, from which opinion delegates disagreed, the resolution was put to the meeting and declared lost bv 18 votes to 11.

Upon tlio suggestion of llxr- Auckland [Inion it. was decided that the Hamilton Uugby Union (now attached to, tho South Auckland Union) bo tompornrily morged ill (ho Auckland Union unlii after tho war. when tho question of tho revision of boundaries ran bo gono into. Election of Officors. Office-hearers lor the present season were elected as follow: "Patron, His Excellency tlin Governor-General, (ho Earl of Liverpool; president, Mr. U. Harris (Otigo); vice-presidents, Messrs. T. Buchanan (Tl)ranaki), 0. I". C. Campbell (Wellington), "\V. Wilson (Otago), ■J. Colvin (Buller), .T. Arneil (Auckland!, A. J. Geddis (Southland), W. .T. M'Gralh (Itjiwke's Bay), D. K. Logan (Wairarapa), P. T. Evans (Canterbury), H. It. Baggn (Marlborough), G. H. Rpriggens (Wungamii); hon. treasurer, Mr. B. Wylio; Management Committee, Messrs. G. H. Dixon, G. Howe.'A. Laurenson, B. A. Marrk G. C. Fncho, E. 0. Hales. E. Wylio, and Campbell; auditor. Mr. 0. Keniber; reG. V. C. Campbell, M. J. Crombio, and A. Campbell; auditor, Mr. 0. Krmber; representative on English Rugby Union, Mr. C. Wray I'alliser.