FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 March 1911, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING SEASON. AND SOME NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "Captain.") The members of the various football clubs throughout the district, and, I might say, throughout the dominion, are commencing to do the preparatory work prior to the more important factor ot donning the jersey for the season. There is a general, feeling among footballers that the great national game will boom here this winter, and that there will be keen competition in the different grades. The question of amalgamation with Manawatu' with the idea of forming a strong combination for representative purposes will havo to be discussed and settled, and discussed; and settled without delay. Amalgamation is a scheme that has great possibilities, and it itfentitlcd 1 to the careful consideration, of those in authority and the players of the district. No doubt the Manawatu: Union, from whence the idea originated, will come forward with a. comprehensive scheme that will place both Unions on an equal basis,* and have for its object the placing of

the amalgamated Unions equal in status with any other football union in the dominion. The annual meeting of the LevinWandorcr Football Club is to be held in the Levin Hotel on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. A number of important matters will be discussed at the meeting concming the welfare of the club. Referees are not likely to be wanting this year. A number of players who intend to discard l the jersey have signified their intention of joining (.he Association. The annual meeting of the Association is to bo held on Wednesday evening. There is a growing need'in the district for the formation of a thirdclass competition. Many boys who leave school are not physically fit to go straight into the ranks of country junior football, and are tliereforo compelled to give the game up for a time and often altogether. By this many promising young .players are" irrevocably lost. This matter is worthy of the consideration of the anniual meeting of the Rugby Union or the new niangement committee. A new club will be figuring in the junior competition. ,tt is the intention of the Otaki Maori Boys' College to enter a team. Some of the players are on the small side, but there are opinions ex-pressed that the boys will give a good account of themselves on the. field. Otaki will probably,have a hot combination in the field this year. It is rumoured that there will be an amalgamation of the existing Tainni and Kia Toa clubs. The new club will, it is said, be called the. Oaki Club. Henaro Rawiri and George Cook are back at Otaki and! with these two at the back of things a strong team .should, be placedl in the field. A meeting will be held - at an early date to talk over matters, •fljnd the propose! scheme is consummated it will give a. good fill in to football in Otaki as well as to" the the district. Ae certain amount of feeling is being expressed on the subject by old-timers" of both club's, but the young players should! not be a. party to this club feeling. A little

tact hy those who are trying to amalgamate the clubs will probably smooth over the difficulties flnd! a strong combination eventuate. Apart from this Mr George Gordon, who has followed the fortunes of the Taiiiui Club, intends to call a meeting of that club's players for Tuesday nght to discuss the prospects for the coming season.

A matter that might 'he considered with advantage to the Union is the purchasing or leasing of a suitable playing ground at Levin. A large amount of revenue is lost oath year through the Union not having complete control of the ground o,n wiliieh . inter - club and representative matches are played. Otaki teams will this year have the advantage of possessing a good ground for practice and .matches. The domain has been ploughed and levelled and sown down in grass, and, after it has been rolled' the ground will he equal to any in tlie district. This is a matter for congratulation for Otaki football fields have heen the cause of considerable unfavourable comment from visiting teams in past years. The possession of such facilities for practice should give a stimulus to football in the southern portion of the Union that will have an effect on. the whole district. The annual general meetingtof the Rugbv Union will take place at the Manakau Hotel on Wednesday, April 12th, at 8 p.m. The atention of club secretaries is drawn to bylaws 17 and 18, whinb read as follows:—17. That all clubs must, not later than the 31st March, send in to the hon. secretary of the Union' the names of the management committee (which will consist of not less than five), Mid! of the Hon. secretary and hon. treasurer, and these officers shall bo considered the responsble officers of the club. 18. That all club secretaries shall send in to the secretary of the Union, 'before the monflnof April, the treasurer's books and the balance,sheet for the year. Any club failing to do so shall he suspended till the books are sent in.