RUGBY AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 186, 3 May 1940, Page 7

RUGBY AND THE WAR

Response Of Players To

The Call

PAST SEASON REVIEWED

"Because of the outbreak of the war the South African tour, an event, we were all looking forward to, had to be abandoned. One cannot help admiring the spirit with which this decision was •■■•‘•'iUted by all concerned,” said Mr.

-•.'/McKenzie (Marlborough), the retiring president, in his address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Itugby Union, held in Wellington, yes-

terday. "Our selectors spent much time m an endeavour to get the best football talent, together, and I think our players practised very hard to make the grade necessary to turn the tables on the mighty Springboks; but it was not to be. The British Empire was at war, and on that account the New Zealand and South African unions decided to abandon the tour.

‘•Though keen disappointment was felt by all concerned, the decision was accepted without a complaint, and we are proud to know that so many of our prospective All Blacks have answered the Empire’s call and are now serving with our forces. It is our earnest prayer that peace will soou prevail, and' that they will all return, sound in body and limb, once more to take their place in the ranks of Itugby football. ".Much regret was also felt at the cancellation of the Imperial Conference. We were fortunate in securing two very able delegates iu Mr. Maddisou and .Mr. McPhail, and good results were expected. It is hoped that in the near future, they will have an-oppor-tunity of completing their mission. “With Mr. Deans and officials of the Auckland Itugby .Union, I had the honour of meeting and welcoming our Fijian visitors to New Zealand. They were a gentlemanly lot of fellows, wellbehaved and well-liked by all they came iu contact with, and their football pleased the public. I believe this could be developed into a profitable tour.

Tlic election of officers resulted: Patron, His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway; president. Mr. L. V. Carmine (King Country) ; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. Craddock (Buller), and J. N. Millard- (Wellington) ; council, Messrs. V. M. Spudding (Otago), A. A. Adams (West Coast), I„ K. Lopdell (Southland), A. St. C. Belcher (Waikato), G. A. Maddisou (Hawke’s Bay), Dr. G. J. Adams (Wanganui) ; executive committee,'Messrs. S. S. Dean, J. G. Koaehe, J. <l. I’rendeville, A. McDonald, C. Mullaue. J. 11. Parker, A. C. Kitto; appeal council, Sir .James Hutchison, Messrs. F. 11. Campbell and H. F. Sincock; auditors, Henry Kember and Sons; representative on llugby Football Uuion (England), Mr. C. J. Wray. Appreciation of the honour conferred on him was expressed by Mr. Carmine, who remarked that it was just over 30 years since he had taken au official position as secretary of the Buller llugby Club. Subsequently he had been secretary of the Buller Itugby Union for .13 years, during which time he had played in club and representative matches. Since then he had continued to take an active part in the administration of the game and he now felt that what had been nearly a life’s work had been more than rewarded by the delegates. After referring to the historic nature of the meeting, which was being held during the celebration of New Zealand's centenary, Mr. Carmine said it was unfortunate that they should also be meeting during a war in which the , British Commonwealth of Nations was engaged. •■I can only say that it will be our duty to do all in cur power to help the Government and the country through this difficult period, and I am sure that every union has that same principle first and foremost in its thoughts—not to do anything that will impair the war effort. We control the largest sporting activity in this country.' Therefore we have a duty not only to the players, but to the country. It is a duty on which we cannot look lightly.” At. a subsequent meeting of the council, Air. S. S. Dean was re-elected chairman.

Representative Fixtures

Following are the Rugby representative fixtures for the 1940 season:— June 1: North Island Universities v. South island Universities, Auckland. June 8: East Coast v. Poverty Bay, Gisborne; Hawke's Bay v. Wairarapa, Napier : Waikato w-Auckland, Hamilton ; Taranaki v. Wanganui, Wanganui; N.Z. Universities v. Services,. Auckland. June 15: Mauawatu v. Wanganui, Palmerston North. June 22: King Country v. Waikato, Ila nn'lton. July 3; Wellington v. Taranaki, Hawtra. July (J; Hawke's Bay v. Wairarapa, Wairarapa ; Hawke's Bay v. Poverty Bay, Gisborne; Buller v. West Coast, Westport; King Country v. Taranaki, Te Kuiti. July 13: Waikato v. Auckland, Auckland; Mauawatu v. Wanganui, Wanganui; Bay of Plenty v. Poverty Bay, Gisborne. July 20: Nelson v. Marlborough, Blenheim; Buller v. West Coast, Greymouth; King Country v. Auckland, Taumarunui. July 27: Hawke's Bay v. Auckland, Hawke's Buy; Bay of Plenty v. Waikato, Taiiranga; Otago Sub. Unions v. Southland Sub. Unions, Dunedin ;' Bush Districts v. Wairarapa, Wairarapa; Thames Valley v. Auckland B, Auckland. August 3: Otago v. Southland, Dunedin; Marlborough v. Buller, Westport; Neisou v. Golden Bay, Nelson; Thames Valley v. King Country, Thamew Valley. August .10: Mauawatu v. Taranaki, Taranaki; Hawke's Bay v. Waikato, Hawke's Bay. Aug. 14: North Auckland v. Thames Valley, Thames Valley. August 17 : Hawke's Bay v. Wellington, Wellington; Wairarapa v. Wellington, 'Wairarapa; North Auckland v. Auckland, Auckland ; Otago v. Southland, Invercargill; Taranaki v. Wanganui, Taranaki; Thames Valley v. Bay of Plenty, Thames ? uiiey; Golden Bay v. Buller. Westport; Nelson v. Marlborough, Blenheim. August 24: King Country v. Wanganui. Taumarunui; Taranaki v. Auckland. Auckland. August 31 : Taranaki v. Wellington. Wellington; Hawke's Bay v. Mantiwatu, Palmerston North; Nelson v. Puller, Westport; Waikato v. Thames Valley, Hamilton; Bay of Plenty v. Auckland. Auckland. September 7: Mauawatu v. Wellington. Wellington: Hawke's Bay v. Wanganui, Hawke's Bay; Canterbury v. Wellington, Christchurch ; Taranaki v. King Country, Te Kuiti. September 14: Auckland v. Wellington, Wellington; West Coast v. Buller, Westport.