FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5108, 30 March 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

HAURAKI PLAINS UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of delegates to the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union was held at Ngatea on Monday' evening, the president, Mr J. Costello, presiding. Delegates present were : Messrs H. Dent, C. S. Foster, C. Bertelsen, R, McPherson, Ngatea ; W. Thompson, Kerepeehi; P. R. Henry, W. Madgwick, C. Scott, Turua; N. Wallis, Plains West; A’. H. McClean, H. L. Berney, Waitakaruru ; F. L. Wallis, P. Clark, R. Whelan, United Coast; E. A. Mahoney, Referees’ Association ; and W. Wylde, hop. secretary. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report, which was adopted, was as follows “The season 1926 has been a more successful one than has been experienced for some years, inter-club matches commenced on April 10, and the ten-weeks fixture was completed in fourteen weeks. Tn the senior competition 23 of the 30 matches were played, and in the junior competition 14 of the 20 matches were played. The representative team played five Poland Cup matches, two challenge matches, and one friendly match against Thames. Three Poland Cup matches were.won.

Financial. —Financially the season has been a successful one, due to the strict economy exercised. The representative match gate receipts showed an increase over that of the previous season of £29, and whereas in the previous season we received £l7 assistance from other unions, this season we were able to pay the Thames Valley £l3-odd in percentages and nearly £l6 in donations. Transportation cost £l4 less than in the previous season, while other charges were practically the same. The sum to be carried forward to the coming season is about £3 more than last year.” CONSTITUTION OF UNION.

Before proceeding to further business consideration was given to a notice of motion by Mr C. S. Foster to the effect than an executive comprising five or seven members be appointed at the annual meeting.

Speaking to the subject Mr Foster pointed out that up to the present there had actually not been any union at all, and what had passed for union meetings had only been meetings of delegates from the affiliated chibs. These men had to advocate the cause of their clubs and then sit in judgment on the case. This shoud not be so. Matters shoud be decided by an impartial body of disinterested men. He could not see that it would matter much where the men came from so long as they acted fairly on all matters. Not being bound to any club, as were the delegates, they should be competent to give a fair and impartial .decision. Delegates should merely be advocates for their dubs. It was thus that most of the unions were constituted.

The president expressed .the opinion that the delegates knew the wants o£ their own districts better than would an executive body of outsiders, apd that the present system had worked all right in the past. In reply to Mr D. G. McMillan Mr Foster said that the committee would net be appointed from club delegates. Mr Mahoney, in seconding the motion, expressed the opinion that the change would tend to expedite business and give greater efficiency. At the present time if a club’s delegates were absent from a meeting its business was liable to be neglected. After the rules of the union had been read Mr E. L. Walton said that it was obvious that there was no union at all. The rules provided for officers and various committees, but not for a body that could be termed the’ union. Mr F. L. Wallis supported the motion, but Mr H. Dent disagreed with it, while Mr P. R. Henry thought the idea was good but that it would not work out in practice. The executive should be appointed at the annual meeting, at which all players of affiliated clubs could attend and vote. On account of the nature of the district this was not practicable. After some discussion on the present non-existence of that was actually a union and not merely a meeting’ of delegates plus an outside president and secretary, and also on the fact that there was not even one

meeting in the year at which any player could attend and vote, Mr A H. McClean explained that the number of votes which could be exercised

by any club had been limited to four at general meetings, so that there would be some 'equality in voting strength.Mr Walton asked if the delegates were prepared to alter the constitution to provide for the appointment of a union and the holding of an annual meeting at which ordinary members could have a voice and a vote. Messrs Henry and Scott expressed agreement, but Messrs McClean, Berney, and Thompson disagreed with the idea as being impracticable. On the motion being put to the meeting it was supported by 6 and opposed by 10. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tlie following officers were appointed without any opposition: Patron, Mr W. G. Hayward ; president, Mr H. Dent; secretary, Mr W. Wylde; auditor, Mr E. L. Walton. A vote of thanks to Mr E. L. Walton tor his services as auditor was carried by acclamation. The retiring president, Mr J. Costello, who did not desire reappointment, was accorded a vote of, appreciation for his services as president of the union since its constitution six years ago and was made a life member. GENERAL MATTERS. Mr C. Bertelsen asked for an explanation of the conditions attached to the shield for the junior competition. It was not known if this trophy could be won outright. Mr N. Wallis promised to look up the old records. At the request of the Referees’ Association it was decided that the onus of getting referees to inter-club matches and the expenses incurred be borne by the union. Mr Scott mentioned that in past years the question of providing cap£ for the team winning the inter-club competition had been discussed. He thought something should be done this season. Members agreed that the idea was a good one, but that the cost was a factor to be considered, and there were other better uses .to which the funds could be put. It was decided that all matches commence not later than 2.30 p.m. CLUB BOUNDARIES. The matter of altering the existing club boundaries or providing some means of allowing the United Coast Club to secure sufficient players to place a team in the field thisVseascn was brought up by Mr F. L. Wallis, who pointed out that at present there were only eight or nine players available. His club therefore appealed to the union for some assistance, either by altering the boundaries or by giving permission to play for the Coast Club. Unless his club got some more players it would have to disband. Mr R. Whelan supported his codelegate, and said his club suggested that its boundaries be extended to a line drawn from Parry’s corner, Orchard East Road, to Mr G. Gray’s section, Turua-Orongo Road, and also southward along the Pipiroa-Ngatea road. Mr Foster said the matter was such a Complex one that it should be referred to a committee for investigation and report. This action was decided upon, and Messrs Dent, Madgwick, Thompson, F Wallis, and N. Wallis were appointed the committee. FIRST AID. The need for the union making some better provision for attention to players injured at football was stressed by Mr A. E. Ludlow, who pointed out that for all representative matches the appliances of the Ngatea Club were depended upon. It was agreed to go into the matter at a later meeting. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. Mr Scott stressed the necessity of completing the club matches before the commencement of the representative matches. The interference was of great injury to football generally, as at one time in the past season the Turua Club had no game for five weeks on account of the representative matches. . Mr Thompson said, that the Thames Valley Rugby Union made the draw and fixed the dates for the representative matches. Mr Scott said the union should consider whether it was worth while continuing in the Poland Cup competition. Mr Foster said that the union was in duty bound to play Poland Cup matches. .The Plains delegates had fought year after year to have the

conditions altered, but this had always been opppsed by the other subunions. In his opinion the injury was attributable to the playing of chai-

lenge matches, such as for the Pekce and the Birch cups. Mr Madgwick said that if the Thames Valley would not give the Plains requests more consideration, it should withdraw from the union. This was supported by Mr McMillan, who advocated withdrawing from the Poland Cup competition, and concentrating on the Peace Cup, and the Birch Cup, unless the conditions were altered to provide for a reduction to one round, or an alteration to a knock-out competition. At the suggestion of the president it was agreed to defer the matter to a later meeting. INSURANCE OF PLAYERS. A committee comprising the president, secretary, and Mr Mahoney was appointed to investigate the question of insurance of players. APPOINTMENT OF SELECTORS. Mr Barribal brought forward the remit from the Ngatea club urging the appointment of the representative team selectors. The point whether there should remain one or three selectors was then discussed at length, until a decision was readied by a ten to four vote in favour of three. A motion by Mr Barribal was defeated, and it was decided that the selectors be appointed by the union as in the past. • SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The Ngatea club was granted permission to play Netherton, and the Turua chib was granted permission to play C. 0.8., Thames, on Saturday. NEXT MEETING. It was decided that the meeting to ■hear the report of the special boundary committee and general business would be held next Monday evening.