FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1922, Page 1

FOOTBALL

N. Z. RUGBY UNION

annual meeting

ill' TEI.KGIUrn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION |

WELLINGTON, April 27

The annual meeting of delegates of the New Zealand Rughy Union opened to-day, whim the president Mr McLeod presided. Delegates from all parts of the Dominion were present.

Considerable discussion was occasioned by applications for the formation and affiliation of now minor unions in country districts. These were • East Coast, embracing a large portion of remote country in the North Island; and the King Country from Ruapehu to ’I tin inch Valley, including the goldfields. The chairman said it was not advisable to allow country unions in thickly populated areas to become too numerous in the North Island, .for the reason that they might have North Island diminution over the South Island. He considered the time had arrived for a new scheme of goveminent for the Dominion. Other delegates advocated defined boundaries and lessened powers, but eventually the applications were approved without qualification. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman said it was desired that all secondary schools take part in the Moascar Cup competition. He suggested that international visits take place every five years. Referring to the universal control of the game, lie said the meeting would consider representations re the British Empire. The assurances made to the English Union that there was no fear of amateurism drifting into professionalism in New Zealand had made a good impression. He hoped the tax imposed by the Government on the game would be tern, porary.

sectarianism DENOUNCED. Referring to the fact that sectarianism was creeping into tin* Rugby cede in the school games, recommended that a firm stand be taken against it, and that they penalise any union that allowed a school to ho. debarred from taking part in school competitions. A Canterbury remit that in the future in all New Zealand Selection Committees each Island shou.ct have cfjual representation was defeated.

A remit from Hawke’s Bay criticising the present method of selection of rep. teams was defeated. It was resolved that it he recommended to the Management Committee that the surplus players from tho teams picked for the “A” and “B” teams in the North and South Island match play a curtain raiser on the day of the match.