NATIONAL GAME

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1930, Page 8

NATIONAL GAME

RUGBY FOOTBALL IN DOMINION. AI E.M (RUBLE YEA R lON I* ICCTKJ>. WELLING) ON. A! r h 2«’. “.Most of t!ie,affi.iat d unions lout I Kiel very successful seasons, and the game retains its liolcl with tlie ]/i:bli< as t!i:> n itional g.uno of the i>omin ion. Hie number of players uontiiiaef to grow, and last year there wore unless than 2215 loams placing undei tlie jurisdiction of tile New /tealund Rugby Union. This does not include the teams id' .our primary m hoots. The benefits derived from the game by the youth of tiio country, in '.building up a. self-reliant, active and quick-thinking type, and above all, tho value of the team spirit or Rugby cannot bo ovor-ustimatc/d.” These statements are made in the annual re vt ol the Nm- Zealand ITig’t. Union, which was issued yesterday.

“During the forthcoming season,’’ comments the report, “we are to be honoured with a visit from a British team, which will play a scries of matches in New Zealand and Australia. Air James Baxter (the manager), Air \V. Wr Wakefield (the captain), and tlie members of the loam are assured of a very hearty welcome, and the tour is looked forward to with l.vcno-t. interest. The committee is confident that excellent games will result, and that the friendly relations now existing between the unions of the Home countries and New Zealand will be further cemented with ultimate good to the game of Rugby in general.”

| IMPERIAL RUGBY BOARD. “The committee has given ihc matter of an Imperial Rugby Board considerable thought during the year,” the report proceeds, “and various communications ha\e passed between the union, the- Rugby Root .all Union (England L and the various D-imni n unions with regard to holding a conference during the tour of I,lie British team, and the date suggested is about the month of August, which will coincide with the playing < r tin; fourth Test in Wellington. .The Done unions that comprise the international Board in the majority do not appear to be in favour ot mis p .pi s, ; and your commilt- o has suggested j that ..Messrs Baxter and Waken.id , should represent them at tlie propos|ed conference. Meantime, invitations i have been sent to South Africa a fid New South Wales (for the Australian j unions), and to Canada, asking il the conference is held’whether they work; ; be directly represented thereat. Knur | a recent communication it Is gratifying to learn that the South African Rugby Board is heartily in accord with New Zealand in regard to the csta'di-iimeivt of an Imperial B'ard. | and the committee trusts that the I time is not far distant when this: ! board will bo- an established fact.” The finances of the union are slated to be in a very satisfactory condition. Tlie excess of assets over liabilities is £1.8,901 Is. The season’s working .resulted in a gain o V f £616 4s. Most of the funds of the union are -lent out nn movtg 1 gp t < various unions throughout the Dominion at a low rate of interest, the object being to assist unions to obtain playing fields for its members. Some of the unions, tlie committee regrets to say, are not keeping to the conditions of the loan, which they readily accepted at the time the Joans were- granted, in the | matter of repayment of instalments due. If unions would carry out their obligations in the matter it would allow the committee to consider the applications of other unions who are desirous of providing grounds and facilities for their players and who, without the assistance of the parent body, are unable to do so.” At the annual meeting it was decided to establish a fund, to be derived from tlie proceeds of Ranfurly Shield matches and to be expended by tlie executive in helping unions in need of assistance. The Wairarapa /TU’igby Union lias handed an amount of £69 12s 3d to the committee from the proceeds of Ranfurly Shield matches played in their district. This will’form tlie nucleus of a fund which the committee trusts '-vi 11 eventually do a tremendous amount of good in fostering football in the less populous centres of the Dominion. MEMORABLE YEAR EXPECTED.

“Tlie committee looks hack with pleasure at the advancement of the game made during the past year,’’ the report concludes, “and looks forward with confidence to the 1930 season as promising to be one of the most memorab-le in the history of Rugby in this country . That our visitors will receive the warmest welcome everywhere is assured that they will be favoured with good health, pleasurable games, and a freedom from injury is the fervent wish of everybody in this country. No stone has been left unturned by the committee to make for the comfort and enjoyment of the team during its travels, and the public of New Zealand may be relied upon to do the rest. The committee trust, too, that the high standard of our game and, above all, the good spirit in which it is played right throughout the Dominion, will be maintained and strengthened.”