LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECRETARY WILL RECONSIDER HIS RESIGNATION

Grey River Argus, 6 October 1948, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECRETARY WILL RECONSIDER HIS RESIGNATION

The matter of the resignation of the secretary, Mr I‘. F. Mcuxenzie, which had not Deen accepted, was again considered at last evening's meeting of the West Coast .Rugby League Executive. There was a full attendance o. Mr J. Haddock (Cobden) inquired as to the result of the Board of Control meeting with the Referees’ Association. He also wanted to know why a prepared report of the meeting, which was held in committee, ano which purported to emanate from die one source had appeared differently in the two local papers. “The two reports difl not coincide,” he said. He expressed the opinion that the censoring of news for the press han peen unsatisfactory. Referring to the result of the Board’s meeting with the Referees’ Association, the president, Mr B. F. Connors, read a letter from' the Association which stated that they could see no reason for a written explanation to the secretary, Mr McKenzie, as he already had had the opportunity given to him of attending a meeting of the Association, where, the letter stated, the Association preferred to discuss anything relating to the referees; but it felt that no' useful purpose could be fulfilled unless it was tne desire of the League to have the Association present at a full Executive meeting, and then they would be pleased to attend. Upon the letter being read it was decided to discuss the matter in committee. The Referees’ Association delegates were present at the request of the president to discuss the matter.

Following.- the meeting the President issued the follov.dng statement to the “Argus” on the discussion in committee: —“The matter was fully discussed with the Referees’ Association of which there were twelve members present. After discussion, members of the Executive exhorted the secretary. Mr McKenzie, to reconsider his decision to resign. This he intimated he would do and he would convey his decision to the Board of Control in due course. RUNANGA DISAPPOINTED Referring to the film of the 1947 Kiwis tour of England and France, Mr N. Griffiths said tnat the people of Runanga were very disappointea that there was no screening in theix township, especially as there were in Runanga a lot of interested settlers from the north of England, who were looking forward to seeing the film. He thought Runanga had been entitled to see the film as the township had certainly given its quota to league. The President pointed out that Mr W. S. McClymont, who was taking the film round, had an accident with his car which made him a day late. The League had endeavoured to show the film in the towns that were most central, such as Hokitika, Greymouth and Blackball. This last named township would be very central for people from Roa, Ngahere and Nelson Creek. He said that it might have been far better to have sent the film to Runanga instead of to Hokitika. The secretary, Mr T. F. McKenzie, said that the reason for a very poor showing in the south was that a heavy gale was blowing, and it was felt that there would have been just as poor an attendance at Runanga if the weather had been the same as in Hokitika. He pointed out that when the League investigated the possibility of a screening in Runanga, it was discovered that a ball was being held that evening. “We then took the haL at Blackball,” he said.

. Applications by the Marist and Cobden Clubs for the use of the stall at Wingham Park for the 1949 season were decided on a vote, Marist gaining the stall for a further season by 10 votes to four.

The Moyle Trophy, which is awarded to the most improved schoolboy on the West Coast was won by Mastei Jack O’Fahey, of Ngahere. The Pollock Cup, donated by Mrs Pollock in memory of Pat Pollock, was won by the Kohinoor fifth grade team.

The president, Mr Connors, referred to the fact that Mr W. A. Meates, jnr., who had been selected for the All Black team to tour South Africa had formerly been a player in the League code on the West Coast. He spoke of the fine spirit of sportsmanship always manifested by this well known olayer. He congratulated Mr W. Meates snr., on the success of his son. , , It was decided to send letters of congratulations to the Tuck Brothers, of Nelson Creek, on winning New Zealand boxing championships. A vote of thanks for the assistance given during the season by the press was carried by acclamation, mention being made by the President of the value of the publicity afforded the code. BOARD OF CONTROL At the Board of Control meeting, >reld earlier, Mr B. F. Connors presided, also present being Messrs B. Ramsay, W. Meates, J. Oakley, N. Messenger, R. Armstrong, J. Kidd, N. Messenger, T. F. McKenzie (secretary) and L. P. Coffey (treasurer). . The following remits were submitted by the Marist Cluo: (1) That ah senior competitions consist of three rounds and that the one-round cup be presented to the team leading after the first round. (2) That a list oi fixtures for all grades, one complete round at a time be drawn up, published and forwarded to clubs. (3) That selectors for all grades be appomteo early dr at the beginning of the year. (4) 'That no town midget teams be asked to play anywhere but Wingham Park (5) That provision be made during the season for the playing of challenge shield matches. The letter was received.

McLEAN PARK Referring to a scheme to raise money to improve McLean Park at Blaketown for use as a playing field, the secretary said that the rules governing Liie donation of monies by®" eluded them from making a giant but they could make a donation of £5 to the «hoD day. He said that the league would be more than interested in the scheme if they could use the park on Siindav’s Mr Ramsay Inquired that if it were possible to give a . grant would the league have nrior right to the field on Sunday. The secretary said that no one would have this right. The donation was endorsed. It was decided to investigate the possibility of acquiring sheep to help to keep down the grass on Wingham Park during the summer months.