HELD OVER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 108, 31 January 1919, Page 6

HELD OVER

LAWS OF THE RUGBY GAME PROPOSED ALTERATIONS Tβ RULES A special meeting' of the Council of the New Zenlaiid. li'''by Football Union 'was ,held hist evening to consider alteraiioiis to the ruks of the union and to tho laws of the game. Mr. H. Harris (president) occupied the chair. Thirteen districts were represented. The ordc| pnpyr set forth a number ol proposed alterations, .the competence •it the meeting to discuss which ilepend«l upon the carrying of some modification of Rule 2. Kule 2 was thus the hrst subject of discussion. The rule in question re-id: "It (the New Zealand Union) shall affiliate with tho English Kuguy Football Union, and nhall adopt tho laws of football and the rules as toj professionalism as from time to time nx«d by that s»dy." , A motion Iff Mr., Ohlson, Auckland, proposed: "That the words 'as from time to time fixed by that body' be delotp<! nnd the following substituted in lien thereof: 'but inay make such modifications as may be deemed desirable in the interests of the game.'" Mr. Wylio (Poverty Bay) moved an amendment as ' follows: "That several of the unions nffilinted to the'N.Z.Ii.P.U. having already tested tho following vnriiifTons of the rules of Eugby and being of opinion that such variations tend to tire improvement of the jrame, that this meeting urges' upon 'the English Rugby Union the desirability of testing the variations and adopting and bringing tlie same into force; that this meeting,;while against the principle of nny departure from 7 the' rules of Rugby f,s from time to time adopted by the English Bugby Union, is firmly of opinion that tho time is ripe, for some amendment of ( the laws of the game on the lines siijiiested (then each amendment to 'be considered separately) ; and, further, that this meeting urges upon the English Rugby Union the desirability of calling a meeting of representatives of p.H bodies playing Rusby football throughout the world, with a view to the discussion of the Rugby laws and suggestions for amendI ment' for the purpose of formulating a code of laws agreeable to the whoie Bugby world, and a body constituted representative of ah countries which play 'the'Hugby'{fame." Mr. Wylie later, with the consent of his seconder, modified his amendment, which then, instead of indicating that the meeting favoured the alterations, pimply said that several unions in the Dominion had tested the changes and would like the English Rugby Union to test them, and if it approved to adopt them. The request for a, conference was retained in the amendment. The amendment was lost by 21 votes to 15. . / Dr. M'Evedy moved: "That, in the, opinion of this meeting the time is nol; rip D.'for consideration of nny alterations to the rules of the union or the iaws of jthe game,'and that further discussion bie postponed till the various unions are ia a position to be fully represented, aud the football opinion now abroad has also its representation.''' . Some' of the speakers to Dr. M'Evedy's amendment believed that the meeting was not representative. MteJVylie asked Dr. M'Evedy to add t:> ni? amendment "nnd that questions before this meeting should bp adjourned to the annual meeting in May; nnd that this meeting do now adjourn." ■ Dr. M'Mvedy necepted Mr. Wylie's suggestion, v. The chairman thought that the delegates should have an opportunity of referring the different matters to their unions and getting the opinion of the unions on them. Though no natch voto had been intended it had appeared from the voting on Mr. Wylie's ftniendmal.t that the majority of the unions we,ro not properly represented, and that tho lesser number of unions wais carrying the (lay. Though the umenoiinent had been lost by 21 votes to 15 on the aggregate of the individual votes, only five unions had voted against it, while eight had voted for it. Mr. G. F. C. Campbell said- that the meeting should postpone the matter before it It'-could come- together again and consider the matter aftur having discussed it with, especially, those men who ware to return from tho front. It Wtis fi duty the union owed- to the public of Now Zealand and to the. future of tho grenfc game in this country. Dr. M'Evedy read to the meeting his amendment', with the addition suggested by :Hr. Wylie. 'I'lie amendment wns carried by seventeen votes to fifteen. The Butler mid Wairnrnpa delegates were absent at the time of thp. voting. The meeting adjourned.