FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 988, 6 May 1911, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA BOUNDAR lES TO INCLUDE FOXTON.

Consequent on the resolution to federate with the Manawatu Union for representative purposes, the question of boundaries of the two min us came up for discussion at Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Management Committee of the Horowhenua Union, held in the Chronicle office, Levin. At present the line ol demarcation between the two unions is the Manawatu river, and is inconvenient to teams lying close to the boundary. Foxton, though only twelve miles from Levin, is included in the Manawatu boundary, being a subunion, and has to play teams trom Sandon aud Rongotea —these two latter towns lying closer to Palmerston North than they do to Foxton. A letter was received from Mr Whibley, of the Foxton Sub-union, saying that the subunion was no longer practicable in the district, aud asking that the Foxton Club, as an individual club, be included in the Horowhenua Union.

Mr J. S. Fowler said that he had seen Mr Whibley at Foxtou. Mr Whibley had said that under the peculiar circumstances at Foxton, they thought it would be in the best interests of football if the boundaries were defined and they were allowed to enter a team and play in the Horowhenua Union.

Mr Hoben, of the Manawatu Union, who was present, said that under present existing conditions Foxtou was of no use to the Manawatu Union, as a team could not play at Palmerston North under present train arrangements. There would be no difficulty in arranging the matter for Foxton to play with the Horowhenua Union. After some discussion, the following resolution was adopted : “That the delegates of this Union apply for an alteration of boundaries, aud confer with the delegates ot the Manawatu Umou regarding the same, such boundaries to exclude Liuton and include Foxtou.”—HorowhenuaChronicle.

MEETING AT FOXTON

FAVOURABLE TO ALTERATION. A meeting ot local football enthusiasts was held in the Herai.d office last night for the purpose of meeting Messrs J. W. Proctor and J. S. Fowler, of the Horowhenua Rugby Union, and discussing the question with them. There was a misunderstanding as to the day on which these two delegates would visit Foxton, it being understood locally that they would arrive to-night, and consequently the attendance last night was not as large as it would otherwise have been under the circumstances; however, the attendance was very satisfactory. Mr W. J. White occupied the chair. The Horowhenua delegates explained what had taken place at the last meeting of their Uniou. Manawatu desired an alteration in their boundaries to include Linton and exclude Foxton, and Horowhenua were quite agreeable to these alterations. The matter was now practically fixed, the only step yet to be taken being to get the sanction of the New Zealand Uniou, about which there would be no trouble whatever. One of their chief reasons for visiting Foxton was to ascertain what Foxton’s opinion was in regard to the northern boundary of the Horowhenua Union. Mr White said that personally he was strongly in favour of the alteration, and considered that it was in the best interests of Foxton football. Manawatu had never treated Foxton fairly and football locally would never go ahead while under that Union. Dr. Adams and others also spoke in favour of the new boundaries. In reply to Mr White, Mr Fowler said that their management committee for the present year had been elected and consequently it would not be possible to give Foxton representation straight away. There was every probability, however, that there would shortly be a vacancy on that Committee and then a Foxton man won la be appointed. The meeting was unanimously in favour of playing in the Horowhenua Union.

The question of the northern boundary was then discussed and the following motion passed : That the boundaries determined on by this meeting are two miles north of Tokomaru, thence in a straight line to Broad and Ingram’s flaxmill (Puketotara) and then in a north-westerly direction to the Taikorea Kine, excluding Oroua Bridge, and thence to the sea. Messrs Fowler and Proctor were accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for the trouble taken to attend the meeting and place their views before supporters of the >: iiae m Foxtou, and the meeting terminated. From the above it will be seen that everything points to the coming football season being the most successful yet experienced locally. Already four senior teams have entered for the Horowhenua competition, and it is understood that there will be from seven to to nine junior, and four or five third class teams. Foxton will enter a senior, either one or two juniors and most likely a third class team. The Horowhenua delegates last night promised home and home matches with Shannon and Kevin, and stated also that Manakau team was quite willing to come to F'oxton to play one of their matches, the others to be played in Kevin, and Foxter

would also meet Otaki at Levin. Everything is now practically arranged, and it only remains for the local players to get to work. Elsewhere in this issue Messrs White and Whibley convene a meeting of all interested in football matters to be held in the Herald Office ou Wednesday evening next, at 7.30 o’clock, when it is hoped everyone interested will make a point of being present.