FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4686, 11 April 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THAMES VALLEY RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL MELTING. The annual meeting of the Thames Va'ley Rugby Union was held in the Druids’ Hall, Paeroa, last evening, the president, Mr J. W. Sileoek, presiding over the following delegates : Messrs G. A. Bush, P. Geaney, and Lockyer (Piako). G. Porteous, Anderson, and W. Tlnmpmi) (Hauraki Plains) R. B. Penlington, W. T. Power, and E. Show (Paeroa). Owing.to a misunderstanding as to the date the Waihi union was not represented.

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET, The annual report stated that las: season three matches were played, one with Waikato at Hamilton, one with Wanganui at Te Aroha, and one with Auckland at Paeroa. The local team was successful against Wanganui but lost to Waikato and Auckland. A special general meeting of the N.Z. Rugby Union was held in September last to consider the question of out of pocket expenses of the team to tour England this season This union was represented by Mr Meredith, of Auckland, and he was instructed to support the Auckland mvon’s motion that the New Zealand team be paid 10s out-of-pocket expenses. Matches for the present season have been arranged with Waikato.

The usual inter-union matches were played and the contests proved very keen, a decision not being obtained until the last match, when Hauraki Pi .tins won by 9 points. In the junior competition only one round was played, and the cup was won by Piako. In school football the committee recommended that an effort be made this year to raise teams in each of the sub -union districts, and that interunion matches be played where possible.

The report slated that the revenue for the season wa.s very small. The Wanganui match gate receipts were .£65, Auckland £l9. The Wanganui match cost £4O, the Auckland match £25, and the Waikato match at Hamilton £l5. Committee meetings cost the union £25, and in this connection the committee suggested the appointment of a local executive to deal with minor questions and advised that the meeting of the general committee ne limited to three during the season. in a discussion arising out of the balance-sheet Mr Power said he thought that the expense of the Wanganui match at Te Aroha was rather high.

The balance-sheet disclosed a credit balance of £6 Os 3d. The president said that the Wang inui team had stayed in Te Aroha two days, and (he expenses for board anl entertainments had been costly, but could not have been avoided.

The president stated that after discussing the matter with the secretary he had come to the conclusion that an executive committee might be formed in each centre and make reports to the union, and thus save calling a number of meetings to consider comparatively .small matters. Three union meetings last year had cost over £lB. Mr Bush, in his capacity as honorary auditor, drew attention to the method of one secretary of a subunion in submitting accounts, and tie asked that secretaries of sub-unions make a special point of supplying full details and dates of all items of expenditure. He spoke in eulogistic terms of-the manner in which Mr J. H. Walmsley had conducted the books of the union. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr Sileoek intimated that he did not seek elected this year, and he thanked tlie union for the loyal support accorded to him during his term as president. He believed that the union had a big future before it, and wished it every success. For financial reasons it had not been possible to get a representative team together for practice, but he hoped that as the union progressed that desirable feature could be undertaken with beneficial results.

The following officers were elected for tlie ensuing season : Patron, Mr H. Poland. M.P. ; president, Dr. W. R. Lawrence ; vice-presidents, Messrs P E. Brcnan (Paeroa), J. Costello (Hauraki Plains), R. Sprague (Piako). The Waihi vice-president was not elected at the meeting. Hon secretary, Mr ,W Smith ; hon treasurer, Mr R. B. Penlington ; hon. auditor, Mr G. A. Bush.

Messrs Sileoek and Bush spoke in glowing terms of the services rendered to the union, and to football generally, by Mr J. H. Walmsley, and it was decided that the appreciation and thanks of the union to Mr Walmsley be recorded.

Mr Walmsley briefly replied, and stated that although he had been reluctantly compelled to relinquish th” position of secretary to the union he intended to continue to take a keen interest in football matters, and would at all times willingly give any assistance he could to the newly elected secretary. HEADQUARTERS. It was decided to have the headquarters of the union at Paeroa. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. \ letter was received from the New Zealand Union stating that before fu ture allocation of money for school football was made it would depend up.-n what local unions were doing to fo«ter school football, as the grants were only made to help local unions in this connection. Mr Bush stated that in Te Aroha an effort had been made to encourage school football, and with that end in view a number of business meii had interested themselves in the matter, with the result that a handsome banner bad been obtained for competition among the schools in the Piako Union, and money had also been subscribed to buy a sufficient number of footballs for prosentatiem to the schools. The competition was governed by a schoolboys’ sub-union, and the arrangement worked admirably. Mr Shaw- stated that the Paeroa Union had the matter of school football well in hand. Mr Porteous said that it was rather difficult to promote school competL

ticns on the Hauraki Plains, but an endeavour was being made to faster the game at Ngatea, and at other places where possible. RUGBY UNION RULES. Mr Penlington moved that this season all games under the Thames Valiev Union should be played under N.Z. Rugby rules. He contended that tlie Auckland amended mles ha.l proved unsatisfactory in a number of matches last season. The Auckland mles might be all right in the city, where there was the League game to compete with, but. the rules Imd not been acceptable to th? Thames Valley union. Mr Porteous seconded the motion, which was carried. INTER-UNION MATCHES. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that the Frank Poland Memorial Cup inter-union matches comm ’nee on May 31. LEAGUE PLAYERS. Tlie Paeroa Union submitted th? names of C. E. Neil, C. Hines, and W. Wnelan, who were playing the League game last year, and requested that they be reinstated. It was decided to submit the names to the parent body, with a recommendation that they be accepted. SELECTORS. It was decided that each sub-uniaa submi' the name of a .selector to the union, and that three selectors only be appointed. Mr J. Barrett was appointed selector for the combined Waikato, Thames Valley, and Bay of Plenty team to play Auckland in Auckland on May 10. ROUNDS. Mr Bush moved that there be two rounds for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup. Mr Lockyer seconded. Mr Porteous moved as an amend-' ment that one round only be played, because of the difficulty of getting players in a dairying district to travel after the month of August. Seconded by Mr Anderson. The amendment was lost on the shew of hands, and tlie proposal was carried, the Hauraki Plains delegates dissenting. Tlie matter of sending a B team when an A team was away was discussed. and the matter was left tobe mutually arranged by the subunions The following matches were decided on for the first round May 31: Paeroa v. Waihi, at Paeroa ; Plains v. Piako, at Ngatea. June 14 : Paeroa v. Piako, at Te Aroha : Waihi v. Plains, at Waihi, July s’• Paeroa v. Plains, at Ngatea ; Waihi v. Piako, at To Aroha. It was decided to arrange the junior and third-grade competitions at the next meeting. LIFE MEMBER. Mr J. W. S’lcock was unanimously electee a life member of the union as a token of recognition of the good work done by him in fostering and furthering the interests of football. WAIKATO MATCH. It was decided that the return match against Waikato be played a'. Waihi. as arranged.